
THEBLUEBIRDSAT 

HAPPy- HILLS 


LILLI AN-ELIZABETH-ROX 




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THE BLUE BIRDS 

AT HAPPY HILLS 


BY 

LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY 

AUTHOR OF THE “FIVE LITTLE 
STARRS” SERIES, ETC. 


gork 

THE PLATT & NOURSE CO. 



Copyright, 1919, 

BY 

THE PLATT & NOURSE CO. 



/ 

NOV -7 1919 


©CI.A5 3 561U 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I Keeping Uncle Ben’s Appointment . . 7 

II Who’s Going to Happy Hills? .... 27 

III Uncle Ben’s Drill Corps 43 

IV The Blue Birds Visit Happy Hills . . 61 

V Miss Martin’s Talk 79 

VI Little Mother Magpie 91 

VII Unexpected Geniuses Found at Happy 

Hills 112 

VIII The Street Cleaning Squad . . . . 13 1 

IX The Little Citizens’ Picnic .... 143 

X Miss Martin’s Nature Stories . . . 164 

XI The Amusement Company 179 

XII The Circus at Happy Hills . . . . 192 

XIII The Sawdust Ring 207 

XIV The City Home Plan 219 

XV Miss Martin’s Little Stories oe Great 

People 230 

XVI The End of a Happy Summer .... 247 



THE BLUE BIRDS AT 
HAPPY HILLS 

CHAPTER I 

KEEPING UNCEE BEN'S APPOINTMENT 

“We are ready to start, but where are the 
twins ?” exclaimed Jinks impatiently. Jinks was 
Meredith Starr’s chum who lived next door to 
the Starrs. 

"Why, they were here but a moment ago!” 
said Mete. ^ 

"Perhaps they ran on to Mossy Glen without 
us,” came from Lavinia Starr, two years older 
than the twins, who were eight. 

A shrill whistle from the woods then told the 
three waiting children that Don and Dot Starr 
were half-way to the meeting place. The Blue 
Birds and Bobolinks were going to meet at the 
barn, known now as the Publishing Offices, to 

start thence for the ten-forty train to New York. 

7 


8 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


“Hurry up, we’ve wasted three minutes wait- 
ing for those awful twins!” sighed Vene — the 
nickname for Lavinia. 

At the Publishing Offices on the Mossy Glen 
estate, the three late arrivals found all the mem- 
bers assembled. Ruth and Ned Talmage had 
not far to walk as their home was at Mossy 
Glen, and the Starr children including Jinks were 
now accounted for. Besides these two groups, 
there were the other girl-members of the Blue 
Bird Club, or Nest, and the boys who founded 
the society called Bobolinks, that published the 
magazine and other important printed matter — 
such as tickets, notices, programmes, etc. 

“Here come Ike and Jim — can we all crowd 
into those two autos, do you think?” asked Ned, 
anxiously. 

“It will not be the first time they’ve carried 
such a load,” laughed Jinks. 

Just as the children climbed eagerly into the 
two cars, Mrs. Talmage appeared hurrying along 
the path from the house. 

“Now Ned — remember! Don’t allow anyone 
to go other than the way I’ve directed you. This 
is the first time that we grown-ups consented 


UNCLE BEN’S APPOINTMENT 


9 


to have you children go to New York alone, and 
you must be careful to follow all advices from 
us,” declared Mrs. Talmage, with a note of 
anxiety in her tone. 

“Oh, we’ll be all right, mother; don’t worry. 
Aren’t Mete and Jinks and I almost grown up?” 
said Ned, soothingly. 

“No, you’re not! You three boys are just as 
full of mischief as Don Starr, and everyone 
knows what we have to endure from him!” 
sighed Mrs. Talmage. 

The children all laughed — Dot Starr the twin, 
laughing loudest, but Don looked as dark as 
a thunder-cloud at his friends. 

“Guess you all got out of bed with a left foot, 
this morning ! That accounts for the grouches !” 
grumbled Don. 

Another laugh failed to bring harmony into 
Don’s discordant heart just then, so Mrs. Tal- 
mage turned again to Ned: 

“When you get off the train at Hoboken, you 
take the tube uptown — remember now, uptown! 
Don’t get on the cars that go to Newark or Cort- 
landt Street. Ask a guard which is the right 
train to carry you to 23rd Street. 


10 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


“Then walk across from the 23rd Street exit 
to Fourth Avenue, and up Fourth to Uncle Ben’s 
address. You have it written on the letter, Ned, 
so you simply can’t go wrong!” 

“We won’t go wrong, Mother. You only think 
we may!” 

“Oh, for goodness’ sake— hurry up! We’ll 
miss that train,” complained Don, who now had 
an opportunity to give vent to his ire. 

“Good-by, children! I wish you would tele- 
phone me as soon as you arrive at Uncle Ben’s 
offices, so I will know you are all right!” said 
Mrs. Talmage as the cars rolled away. 

The party had ample time to board the train 
at the little station of Oakdale, and soon they 
found themselves in Hoboken — the terminal for 
the Jersey suburban trains. 

As they were passing the news-stand at the 
foot of the steps that led to the tubes under the 
river, Don saw a variety of tempting candies. 

“I’ve got my week’s allowance with me, Dot — 
do you want some chewing-gum ?” asked her 
twin. 

“S-sh ! They’ll hear you ! And you know Vene 
won’t let us have chewing-gum,” warned Dot, 


UNCLE BEN’S APPOINTMENT n 

glancing at the other children. But they had not 
heard Don, as they were interested in buying 
the tickets to New York. 

This was a perplexing matter, as tickets for 
Dot, Don, and Tuck Stevens were to be at half- 
price, and those of the other children at full- 
price. The twins took advantage of the problem 
to buy a box of gum and a roll of chocolate disks. 

“Oh! Looka here! We’ve got ten pieces of 
gum for a nickel !” chuckled Don, delightedly, as 
he emptied the box into his palm. 

“You take five and I’ll take five,” suggested 
Dot. 

“Why, no! Didn’t I pay for them? You take 
one and when you want another I’ll give it to 
you.” 

“But I always go even shares with you when / 
get anything at home,” argued Dot. 

“That’s different! You don’t pay out your 
hard-earned money for it, and I had to. Why, 
just think how many times last week I had to be 
at school on time ! Didn’t that mean getting out 
of bed so early that I ’most got insomnia from 
it?” 

Dot had an inspiration. She hastily began 


i2 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


chewing the single piece of white-candied gum 
and determined to ask for a second piece soon, 
as Don had promised to give her another one 
when she wanted it. 

Don now hastened in front of his sister, to 
join the other children, but he was too preoc- 
cupied with the gum to notice where he went. He 
heard a guard call: “All aboard !” and he 
rushed in dragging Dot after him — just in time! 
The door was closed and away sped the train. 

“Where’s Ned — and Jinks, and the others?” 
gasped Dot, the moment they found themselves 
safe on the moving train. 

Don could not reply. He seemed to have a 
great obstruction in his mouth. Finally he 
shoved the obstacle over in the hollow of a cheek 
and gurgled out: 

“Guess they went in the car ahead to be nearer 
the exit gate when we get there.” 

“Don Starr! What have you got in your 
mouth?” demanded Dot, suspecting the truth. 

“Gum, of course! What have you got?” re- 
torted Don. 

“Eve got one piece! How many have you?” 


UNCLE BEN’S APPOINTMENT 


13 


“Eve got what I paid for !” snapped Don, but 
he had the grace to blush at his selfishness. 

“I — I just wish you’d swallow it! So there!” 
cried Dot, who had unwisely thrown away the 
gum she had, to induce her twin to give her a 
new piece. 

Don glared only — he could not speak comfort- 
ably. Dot was so offended that she started to 
walk through the forward car in search of her 
friends. “Where ’er yeh goin’, Missy?” asked 
a guard, stopping her. 

“To find the others. They must be in front,” 
said Dot. 

“Got your ticket ? I didn’t see you drop one in 
the box back yonder, cuz I was watchin’ the two 
of yuh,” was the astonishing reply from the 
guard. 

“Ticket! Don, have you got a ticket?” 

“No — Ned got all of them,” replied Don, but 
he was so hasty in moving the gum out of his 
tongue’s way to permit him to speak, that it al- 
most slipped down his throat. 

A tremendous coughing and choking spell 
caught Don, and his face turned as red as a 


i 4 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


poppy, while Dot hammered his back exultantly 
— now she had a chance to get even with him ! 

“Where’er yeh goin’ — Jersey City?” now 
asked the guard. 

“Jersey City ! Why — no. We are to get off at 
23rd Street,” explained Dot, surprised for the 
time. 

“This is a Newark train,” announced the 
guard, wondering what he could do with two 
stray children. 

“Oh, my goodness! Maybe Ned isn’t on this 
train. Was there another train in the same sta- 
tion?” gasped Dot. 

“Sure — one on either side of the platform, 
but we’re always hollerin’ out where we go so 
folks won’t get mixed,” returned the guard. 

Don couldn’t allow Dot to take the lead in this 
exciting adventure, but he could not speak with 
his mouth full, so he slyly dropped the gum in 
one palm and held his hand in his pocket. Then 
he was free to take his part. 

“Which is the nearest stop to 23rd Street?” 
asked he. 

“Well, we will now stop at the Erie Station; 


UNCLE BEN’S APPOINTMENT 15 

next is Jersey City, and so on till we reach 
Newark. Why?” replied the man. 

‘Tm thinking we could get off and take some 
car back.” 

“That’s what you’ll have to do anyway, ’cause 
you haven’t any ticket to show. But I don’t see 
how you are goin’ to ride back again widdout 
payin’ at all!” explained the man. 

Then a light seemed to break in upon them at 
the same time! They caught hold of the guard’s 
coat and laughed: 

“Don’t you see! Ned had all the money and 
tickets, so he dropped them for us when he went 
through the gateway !” 

“And diden’ you’se spend your ticket money 
for candy?” asked the guard, suspiciously, as he 
knew the weakness of youngsters, having a 
brood at home. 

“Cross my heart, we didn’t ! I used my week’s 
spending money. Last week I didn’t earn any 
cuz I owed it all!” said Don, anxiously. 

“All out for Erie Railroad!” now yelled the 
guard, as the train pulled in and it was his duty 
to open the doors. 

“Git off here and wait fer a train what comes 


1 6 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


in on th’ other side the platform !” called he, shov- 
ing Don and Dot out from blocking the doorway. 

“Much obliged! Good-by !” called Don, about 
to wave his hand that had been hidden in his 
pocket. The other hand grasped Dot’s sleeve. 

The door slammed, the train moved out, and 
the twins were left standing alone. Don found 
he could not withdraw his hand readily, and dis- 
covered that the gum had not only stuck fast to 
his fingers but had also clutched a hold on vari- 
ous articles a boy always carries in his pocket. 

“Dot you go and ask the newspaper man how 
long before a New York car comes in?” sug- 
gested Don, as he wished to be alone when that 
gum came forth. 

Dot, proud to be trusted by her brother with 
such an important mission, ran away and Don 
hurriedly set to work. After much tugging the 
gum came out and with it came a marble, a 
broken jackknife, a fish-hook, a brass button, a 
sling-shot, and a few other treasures. 

Don did his best to extricate his personal prop- 
erty from the gum without wasting too much of 
the rare treat. So he carefully chewed off every 
bit that clung to each article as he pulled it forth. 


UNCLE BEN’S APPOINTMENT 17 

He replaced the treasures in his pocket and 
thrust the gum in his mouth just as Dot came 
back. 

“See that red sign — up there?” said she, point- 
ing to an electric sign overhead. 

“Well, that reads where the trains go. This 
one just coming in is uptown the man said.” 

With that she dragged her twin aboard with- 
out ceremony — was he not chewing that gum 
again, and did she have any? No, sir! 

Dot refused to speak a word to Don as they 
were whisked along to the Hoboken terminal. 
Here they jumped off and stood and looked about 
anxiously for their friends,] Not a child was to 
be seen besides themselves. 

“Did they go back to the train to find us?” 
asked Dot. 

“No, they got on the New York cars and 
thought we were on, too. When they get to 
23rd Street they’ll miss and wait there till 



we come,” explained Don, taking the gum from 


his mouth again to speak. 

“What shall we do?” 

“Get on the first train fpr uptown,” replied 


Don. 


1 8 THE BLUE BEDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


"There’s one — I’m going to ask the man 
where it goes,” annamced Dot, running to a 
guard standing by hi platform. 

"Where do you go;’ asked the little girl. 

"Downtown, New T>rk.” 

"Thank you,” and Dot walked away. 

Another string of cars pulled in, and other 
guards got off after the passengers had left. 
Dot ran up to one aid said : 

"Where do you go 3 ” 

"Jersey City, Marhattan Junction, Harrison, 
and Newark!” callei the man, without paying 
any attention to the:hild. 

"Guess that isn’t i, yet,” thought Dot, giving 
the man a scornful look because he would not 
notice her. 

The twins waited and waited, and then an- 
other train came in where the downtown train 
had pulled out. 

"Hurrah! — Read the sign in the windows! 
'Uptown New York,’ Dot!” cried Don, crowding 
on before anyone could get in ahead of him. 

Thus it happened that Don walked into a car 
without waiting for Dot, and she, being small, 
was pushed back by the grown-ups till the last. 


UNCLE BEN’S APPOINTMENT 19 

Just as she was about to step on, Jinks caught her 
---skirt. - 

“Thank goodness! Here you are! We’ve all 
been hunting high and low for the two of you.” 

“Why — where did you come from?” ques- 
tioned Dot. 

“Just came in on that car over there — I saw 
you waiting, before my train stopped, and tried 
to hurry out to prevent you from leaving us.” 

As he spoke, Dot stepped back beside Jinks, 
and the guard shut the door and pulled the sig- 
nal cord. Instantly the train moved and carried 
Don uptown alone. He had not seen Jinks and 
thought Dot was behind him as he walked 
through the sections looking for his friends. 

“There now! Don is gone!” cried Dot, 
stamping her foot. 

“On that car!” gasped Jinks, trying hard to 
choke back a laugh. 

“Yes, and now he’ll get losted, too!” 

“Not if he gets out at 23rd! We left Vene 
there to grab you if you reached that far,” ex- 
plained Jinks. 

“Where’s Ned and Mete, and the others?” 

“Ned went to Cortlandt Street and agreed to 


20 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


meet me at Hoboken again. Mete went to Jer- 
sey City and other stations to ask for you. We 
left Ruth with the other Blue Birds and Bobo- 
links in care of Vene at 23rd Street station. 
Here comes a downtown train.” 

It stopped and Ned stepped off. He glowered 
at Dot and asked : “What under the sun do you 
twins think we are, anyway?” 

“Nuthin’ much, if you can’t take charge of a 
few children !” retorted Dot, glowering as darkly 
as he. 

Jinks burst out laughing. “No use feeling 
upset about it, Ned. No one yet has been able 
to scold the twins!” 

Another train now pulled in and Mete got off. 

“I’d just like to know what right you trouble- 
makers had to leave us and wander around by 
yourselves?” demanded he, angrily. 

“We didn’t wander — we rode! And what’s 
more you just got off the same kind of train we 
got on, so you went the same route!” exclaimed 
Dot, scornfully. 

Now the train from uptown came in on its 
last stop at Hoboken. Off stepped Vene. She 


UNCLE BEN’S APPOINTMENT 


21 


hurried over to join her friends with the excla- 
mation : 

“Oh, I saw Don on the train, but he didn’t get 
off* at 23rd Street where I waited. Before I 
could call or get his attention, the cars moved 
on. I waited but he didn’t come back and I don’t 
know what to do !” 

“What did you come here for?” demanded 
Mete, impatiently. 

“I knew you would be here and could tell me 
what to do.” 

“Yes, and most likely, by the time we all get 
back to 23rd Street, those other nuisances will 
have escaped! Then we’ll waste a whole day 
in hunting them up, instead of visiting Uncle 
Ben on time!” cried Mete, beside himself. 

“No, no! I left them sitting in a row on the 
bench with a colored porter to guard them. I 
promised him some money if he would keep them 
right where they sat !” 

“Fine! I tell you boys — Vene is a true suf- 
frage girl! She uses her wits as well as we men 
do!” exclaimed Jinks, approvingly, for he was 
Lavinia’s chief admirer those days. 


22 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


“Pooh! If she was your sister you wouldn’t 
think so !” 

“All aboard — uptown train!” now bawled a 
guard, and all else was forgotten in the scurry 
to get on. 

Dot felt worried about her twin, but being 
in such disgrace already, she did not add to her 
troubles by asking for Don. 

Soon the guard announced “23rd Street” and 
the children trooped off. There sat the members 
of the Blue Birds and Bobolinks in a row on a 
bench, and a negro man standing beside them 
was apparently enjoying himself, as he listened 
to an orator standing at one end of the long 
bench. It was Don who held forth with such a 
flow of rhetoric. 

“Say you, Don Starr ! How came you here ?” 
shouted half a dozen voices, as as many individ- 
uals ran over and caught hold of the boy. 

At the sudden shaking, Don dropped some- 
thing. Dot saw it fall and gave it a vicious kick. 
It was a huge ball of gum. Don saw it and 
knew what had caused it to roll away. He glared 
at Dot, and then turned to the boys. 

“Mighty good thing I got my wits about me! 


UNCLE BEN’S APPOINTMENT 


23 


You boys aren’t worth a cent to look after a 
bunch of youngsters ! I know how to travel, all 
right! I’ve been to Jersey City, Hoboken, Erie, 
and Christopher Street, Ninth Street, Four- 
teenth Street, Eighteenth, Twenty-third, Twen- 
ty-eighth and Thirty-third Streets, all in an hour 
— and here I am as fresh as ever !” 

“Fresh — of course you are! And I’m going 
to have Uncle Ben take a lot of it out of you just 
as soon as we get to his office !” threatened Mete. 

“No you won’t either ! I telephoned him from 
the 33rd Street station to ask him what to do and 
he said: ‘Go and wait at 23rd Street station as 
planned, and bring them all over here as soon 
as possible. You are almost an hour late for the 
appointment!’ so I am to take charge now, and 
see that we all get over to the office as quickly 
as you can travel !” 

The children laughed at the order from Don, 
and then started up the steps to the street, but 
did not see Don stoop to catch up the ball of 
gum. He planned to wash it well at a drinking 
place he knew of in his uncle’s office. 

Without further mishap, they all reached the 
1 8th floor where Uncle Ben’s office was located, 


24 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

and Don slipped away. The gum was soon 
washed, and he chewed as noisily as ever as he 
ran after the last one to enter the door leading 
from the main hall to the offices. 

“Don Starr! what are you chewing ?” de- 
manded Vene, in a disgusted tone. 

“Nawthin' !” 

“Yes, you are, too! Ned, see what he's chew- 
ing! I just know it’s gum!” from shocked Vene. 

“Don, are you chewing gum?” asked Ned. 

“I'm not chewing a thing — can't you see my 
jaws are as quiet as yours — quieter, cuz you’re 
talking!” 

“Were you chewing gum?” now came severely 
from Mete. 

“Not that you noticed it!” said Don, saucily. 

“Open that mouth of yours !” demanded Mete. 

“Can't — my tooth is hooked!” replied Don, a 
faint twinkle beginning to wrinkle his eyes. 

“I'll yank the tooth out — open your mouth!” 
and Mete caught hold of his younger brother's 
shoulders and shook him. 

A choking, a sputtering, and a great confusion 
followed as Don was forced to give up the gum. 

“Oh — you ! you — you ” but Vene had no 


UNCLE BEN’S APPOINTMENT 25 

words to convey her horror at the untruth she 
felt Don had told. 

“Good gracious — what a chunk! How could 
you crowd it in at one time !” gasped Mete, when 
he saw the size of the gum. 

“He chewed nine pieces at once!” eagerly at- 
tested Dot. 

“Did you chew the tenth?” was the unexpected 
query from Ned. 

“Only the teeniest bit — just to get the flavor, 
then I threw it away!” admitted Dot. 

“Oh, really!” from several voices. 

“And she got angry when I wouldn’t give her 
five even!” added Don, scowling at everyone. 

“Why did you say you couldn’t open your 
mouth ’cause your tooth was fast? Didn’t you 
know you were fibbing?” asked Ned. 

“I didn’t say one word that was a lie! Now 
you think ! My tooth was hooked. I had to use 
that gum to keep my tooth from getting cold and 
aching again. The dentist told me always to 
keep the nerve covered when I went outdoors. 
He said it was an exposed nerve that made a 
tooth jump. So I did as he advised me, that’s 
all!” explained Don. 


2 6 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


Not another word was said about the gum 
then, as the inner door to Uncle Ben's offices 
was reached and the Publishers went in where 
all was quiet, and such a thing as gum was never 
thought of! 


CHAPTER II 

who’s going to happy hiu,s? 

“Hello, Finn — where’er yeh goin’ in sech a 
hurry?” asked a newsboy of a pal who was hur- 
rying past. 

“Oh — hello, Skelly! I’m lookin’ fer that chap 
what knows about them passes fer camp.” 

“Hully chee, Finn! Yeh don’t tell me ye’re 
goin’ to that Sunday School place — what?” 
jeered the boy called Skelly. 

“ ’Tain’t a prayer-meetin’ camp, neider ! It’s a 
regerler camp fer boys and gals. I was told 
there’s not a bit of Sunday School stunts goin’ 
on there,” replied Finn, defensively. 

“Huh, all the same, you’ll come back actin’ 
like a little lady! Dey’ll cure yuh of cigarettes, 
matchin’ pennies and all the udder fun we’ve 
had,” scorned Skelly, bitterly. 

“See here, now ! I ain’t wantin’ the ticket fer 
meself — it’s only fer my sick sister, yuh know. 
The Doc said she’d got to git out of that hot, 

27 


28 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


dark room in the tenement, and where kin I 
keep her — on y in a camp like this is?” explained 
the worried brother to the leader of the Ludlow 
Street gang. 

“Oh, I see,” returned Skelly, apologetically, 
“An’ so yeh want to find Ike who’s got the ad- 
dress of the place!” 

“That’s it! Have yeh seen him this mornin’?” 
asked Finn. 

“He went uptown to see the man at the print- 
in’ office. He tol’ me all the tickets i e had on 
hand were given out and he needed more. Why- 
don’t yuh trot up and see the man yourself in- 
stead of hangin’ ’round waitin’ fer Ike?” ven- 
turned Skelly. 

“Guess I will — where is it?” 

Skelly thereupon dug down into the pockets 
of a ragged pair of trousers and finally brought 
to view a dirty scrap of paper. Upon it was 
scrawled: “Benjamin Talmage, Manager of 
Blue Bird Camp at Happy Hills, 354 Fourth 
Avenue, New York.” 

“Dat’s up near 23rd Street, yuh know,” Skelly 
added, as Finn read aloud the address. 

“I’ll git a hitch on a truck goin’ up, and try to 


WHO’S GOING TO HAPPY HILLS? 29 

see the boss right away,” said Finn, his face ex- 
pressing relief at having some tangible plan to 
act upon. 

Thanks and the verbal expression of grati- 
tude were unknown to the street Arabs of New 
York, but Skelly knew from Finn’s face that he 
appreciated the information, and that was all 
that was required of a friend. 

A large auto-truck sped past the boys, and 
Finn was .soon perched on the tailboard, waving 
his old ^ap at Skelly. The truck turned in at 
23rd Street to go its way to the Fast Side, so 
Finn jumped off and scanned the numbers of the 
tall office buildings as he started uptown. 

“Hah ! Here it is ! Hully chee, what a swell 
shanty!” said he to himself as he stood wonder- 
ing whether to enter the tiled hall. Would the 
elevator starter permit a boy so ragged and dirty 
to go up in one of those shiny lifts? 

He still pondered this momentous question 
when Ike ran out and almost into him. 

“Looka where yer goin,’ why don’che?” grum- 
bled Finn, then seeing that it was Ike, he clapped 
him soundly on the back. 


30 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“Aw, I say, Ikey! Gim’me a ticket fer me 
sister ?” 

“Look out what’che cracking Finny! DaPs 
my back lung what sounds so holler when you 
beat it,” grinned Ike, the good-natured boy from 
Rivington Street who had won fame as a ticket- 
distributor for Happy Hills. 

“Got one to spare?” anxiously continued Finn. 

“Nope! Yeh got’ta apply personal. HI go up 
wid yeh if you wants one bad,” offered Ike. 

“Come along den — I need yeh to help talk;” 
so the two were soon going up. 

After leaving the elevator, the two boys 
walked down a very long corridor with offices on 
either side. Said Ikey : 

“Now, you’se wants to be careful how you’se 
talk in here, see? Mr. Ta’mage is a fine chentl- 
man and don’t like no slang. Mebbe yeh better 
keep yer mouth shet altogether an’ let me do the 
talkin’ — cuz, yeh know, Finn, yeh do spill an aw- 
ful lot of slang widger English!” 

Finn was properly impressed and consented 
to have Ikey do all the talking. By this time the 
boys reached the door leading to the suite of 
offices they sought. 


WHO’S GOING TO HAPPY HILLS? 31 

“Please, ma’am, tell Mr. Ta’mage Ikey Ein- 
stein is back yet — Micky Finn, too, wants to make 
his acquaintance,” said Ikey to the pretty tele- 
phone operator who sat near the door. 

“Yank off yer cap, Finn — hurry up quick, be- 
fore she sees it!” hissed Ikey in his companion’s 
ear as they stood waiting for an answer. Ikey 
had removed his apology for a hat when enter- 
ing. 

“Mr. Talmage says will you be seated, he’ll 
be out in a moment,” announced the girl, with a 
smile at the young visitors. 

Ikey knew the particular bench meant for wait- 
ing callers, and silently led Finn to it. No sooner 
were they seated than the door by which they 
had just entered was flung open and a number 
of children of their own age came in. 

“Hello, Miss Johnson! Uncle Ben in?” called 
the youngest boy in the group. 

“He’s busy now, and has two waiting to see 
him,” was the young lady’s reply after she had 
acknowledged Don’s greeting — for the boy was 
our old friend and favorite, Don Starr, and his 
companions were no lesss than the officers of 
the Blue Bird and Bobolink Publishing Society 


32 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

that issued the monthly magazine for Little Citi- 
zens. 

At the nod of Miss Johnson’s head in the direc- 
tion of the two who were waiting, Don spun 
around and recognized one of them. 

“Well, well, if this isn’t our friend Ikey!” said 
Don, in his tone and manners for all the world 
like a grown man, as he caught Ikey’s hand and 
shook it heartily. 

The other children — Ned and Ruth Talmage, 
Meredith, Jinks, Lavinia, and Dot Starr, turned 
at Don’s words to watch the two boys. 

“Where under the sun did Don meet that 
boy?” whispered Lavinia to her brother Mere- 
dith. 

“Say, Vene, where does Don find anything he 
wants to get hold of!” returned Meredith, chuck- 
ling at his younger brother. 

“I know !” now declared Dot Starr, Don’s twin 
sister. 

The others waited for her to explain, so she 
placed a hand at the side of her mouth to pre- 
vent the two strange boys from hearing what 
she whispered. 

“They are newsboys who first heard of us at 


WHO’S GOING TO HAPPY HILLS? 33 

the ‘Tree of Light' last Christmas. Ikey is the 
thin one and he was at that Easter Egg Picnic 
in Van Cortlandt Park, too. That's where Don 
met him; Ikey had such a lot of eggs that we 
asked where he got all of them, 'cause we knew 
he couldn't have had that many to start with. 
And he told " 

“S-sh! Not so loud, Dot! He'll hear you. 
What did he tell you?" interpolated Jinks. 

“Why, you know he works in a newspaper 
printing place where they hire boys to clean 
up messes of inks and trash, and run errands, 
too. Ikey got a lot of free tickets from the 
printer to some lecture and he traded them in, 
a ticket for every egg he could get. Then he 
told Don he was going to sell those eggs down- 
town to his friends." 

“Did he?" asked Ruth, surprised that anyone 
would want to sell Easter Eggs. 

“I'm going over and find out — I guess that's 
what Don is talking about now," replied Dot, 
joining her twin brother. 

“Say, Dot, Ikey just told me he made 56 cents 
on those Easter eggs, and now he's set up in 
business — newspaper business of his own. He 


34 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

wants me to go in as his partner — what do you 
think of it?” said Don in a low voice, for Jearhis 
brother or Jinks might overhear the plan. 

“Pooh! You couldn’t leave Oakdale for a 
newspaper business, and what’s the good of hav- 
ing a business if you can’t look after it your- 
self?” replied Dot. 

“He could yust invest his money an’ I’d look 
after it,” hurriedly explained Ikey, all for busi- 
ness. 

“If Don looked after all he ought to at home, 
he’d have more interests than he could take care 
of. No sir! You leave Ikey Einstein to man- 
age his own investment !” decided Dot, the prac- 
tical. 

“You’re jealous ’cause you were left out — 
that’s what !” said Don, impatiently, as Dot 
pulled him back to his friends. 

Uncle Ben came out just then, and shook 
hands with his Oakdale friends. “Just go in 
that director’s room until I finish talking to 
these two young men, will you ?” 

So the little Talmages and Starrs and Jinks 
left Uncle Ben with Ikey and Micky Finn. 

“Mr. Ta’mage, dis newspaper boy’s got a bad- 


WHO’S GOING TO HAPPY HILLS? 35 

off sister to which a Doc says she must get away 
quick to the country fer fresh air or a grave. 
Now Finn — he's Micky Finn, you know, an' a 
fren' of mine — says he ain't got no country place 
an' neider have we got a cemetery lot if Nelly 
goes and dies, but mebbe you kin let her come 
right away, quick, to Happy Hills so she kin 
get well and not need a grave." 

Ikey told the story in one breath so that at the 
last he was not very distinct, but Uncle Ben knew 
the story — there were so many, many more just 
like it in the city! If only Happy Hills had fifty 
times the number of acres fitted up with fifty 
times the number of camp-nests ! 

“Micky, how old is your sister Nelly?" asked 
Mr. Talmage. 

“She's two years younger'n me," stammered 
Finn. 

“And how old are you, little man ?'' continued 
Uncle Ben, placing a friendly hand on the ur- 
chin's shoulder. 

The touch and tone made Micky Finn brace 
his backbone with conscious pride as he replied: 

“I'm mos' twelve, sur, an’ I've been the bread- 


36 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

winner fer th' fam'ly fer four years — ain't I, 
Ikey?" 

“Shure he has! An' Nelly gits more'n lots of 
sick gals we know, 'cuz Finn won't play craps 
ner match pennies like the udder boys do!" 
bragged Ikey, anxious to win a ticket for Micky. 

“Well, let me see! Who will go with Nelly, 
to take care of her? Have you any other sisters 
or family to travel with her?" asked Uncle Ben. 

“We had a sister two years older'n us but she 
disappeared one night an' we never hearn tell 
of her agin. She worked in a tobacco-shop. 
Since then, I had all the supportin' to do. That 
was last summer, she went wid anudder gal to 
Coney Island an’ never got back." 

“I'll have to write down your address, Finn, 
and send a lady down to see Nelly. If every- 
thing is all right, she will arrange to take your 
sister to the country at once. I'll make out the 
ticket myself. Now you can go out and spend 
week-ends with her if you like. And should you 
take a summer vacation, you can go to Happy 
Hills free of cost for two weeks," explained Mr. 
Talmage. 

Micky Finn was so overwhelmed with grati- 


WHO’S GOING TO HAPPY HILLS? 37 

tude and surprise at this unexpected invitation 
that he stood gaping at his benefactor, but said 
not a word. 

“T’ank the chentleman, Micky! Can’t che 
t’ank him nice, fer what he’s gone and done fer 
you an’ Nelly?” Ikey said with a scowl at his 
friend for whom he was sponsor. 

“I do thank — Aw, get out, Ikey! De gentle- 
man knows the choky way I feel in my wind- 
pipe ! Don’che, Mister ?” wailed Finn. 

“Yes, Micky, I know just how you feel, and I 
feel just as happy as if you had thanked me with 
every word known to convey the feeling of grati- 
tude,” said Mr. Talmage, smiling. 

“Dat’s all right to say to him, Mr. Ta’mage, 
but I don’t like my fren’s what I bring up here 
to do nuttin what ain’t all jus’ right. We all 
gotta remember to say what folks like you’se 
say to each udder, ef we’re goin’ to live at Happy 
Hills!” rebuked Ikey Einstein, thoughtfully. 

“That’s right, too, Ikey, but you have had 
more opportunities to practice than Micky had; 
when he meets us often, he, too, will begin to 
change his habits and ways of expressing him- 
self.” 


38 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

As Mr. Talmage spoke, Micky Finn recalled 
the words his pal Skelly had said a short time 
before: something about becoming a little lady 
with fine manners but no fun! 

“Good gracious, Uncle Ben — aren’t you most 
done talking to those boys?” called Don Starr 
from the door of the director’s room. 

“Coming right now, Don! Well, Micky, let 
me know when you want to go and spend Sunday 
with your sister. I’ll try and get her of! in a 
day or two,” said Mr. Talmage. Then the two 
street waifs took their departure. 

Of course, you know what it is all about, don’t 
you? You remember what Uncle Ben did in the 
last Blue Bird book, and how the camps at 
Happy Hills progressed so that they might be 
ready to receive Little Citizens as early as the 
last of May? 

If you have forgotten how the Nests and other 
plans at Aunt Selina’s country place were to be 
built, I will repeat the description. 

The great estate and farm of Happy Hills in 
the Valley of Delight, had a fine large woodland 
tract where the Nests were built. A shallow 
brook ran through the woods, offering all sorts 


WHO’S GOING TO HAPPY HILLS? 39 

of fun and convenience to the little campers. At 
one side of the woodland lay a fertile stretch 
of land that was divided into many squares, one 
for each child at camp, to be used as farms. In 
this soil, a Little Citizen might dig and plant 
and harvest different kinds of vegetables and 
flowers and have them all for his own. No one 
could trespass or take away what a child planted 
on his or her own farm. 

The Nests were large enough to hold six bunks 
and a bed. The bunks, three on either side of the 
square room, were to be for the six Little Citi- 
zens occupying that Nest, and the bed at the 
end would be for the Mother Bird of that par- 
ticular Nest. Besides the bunks and bed, there 
was a locker and a clothes-tree at the head of 
each bunk. The lockers had lids to be closed 
and locked to hold personal things belonging to 
the child who was given that section of the Nest. 
It could also be used as a seat. 

Each Nest was about fifteen feet square, and 
posts held up a sloping roof to shed the rain. 
This roof extended about two feet over the outer 
line of the square room to protect the beds and 
lockers from the rain when it stormed. Another 


4 o THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

arrangement to keep the inside of the Nest dry, 
was a canvas curtain that rolled up on spring- 
rollers in fair weather, but came down in wet or 
cold weather, to act as a wall or screen. These 
curtains buttoned down the sides and at the bot- 
tom. 

A gallery three feet wide extended about the 
outside of the Nest. This narrow veranda was 
railed in safely by a three-foot fence to keep 
the children from falling off the platform of the 
Nest which was raised a few feet above the 
ground. 

The Refectory was a large open building 
equipped with rain-proof curtains also, but on 
fair days they were rolled up so that it was like 
a great pavilion. Even the long tables and 
chairs folded up and could be quickly stacked 
up at one end of the room if the space was 
wanted for games or meetings. 

Besides the sleeping Nests and the Refectory, 
there were a tool-house, a carpenter shop for 
teaching carpentry, a machine-shop to teach me- 
chanics, a library with books and papers to read, 
and in fact many other departments for the edu- 
cation of boys and girls. 


WHO’S GOING TO HAPPY HILLS? 41 

As you read in the last chapter of “The Blue 
Birds’ Uncle Ben,” the children published their 
June number of the magazine and planned to 
suspend for July and August. In this June issue 
they showed photographs of Happy Hills and the 
Nests ready to receive tenants for the summer. 
And as every benevolent institution and child’s 
hospital, as well as the Welfare Workers and 
physicians known to be interested in the poor 
children received a copy of the June magazine, 
the boys and girls publishing it felt sure there 
would be plenty of applicants to fill the camp. 

So work went on until the last of May, when 
all was ready at Happy Hills, and Maggie Owens 
— you remember Maggie, don’t you? — already 
had her little flock of brothers and sisters in one 
of the Nests. She was the first Little Citizen 
to take up residence at the camp. Maggie had 
been admitted without a ticket as her case was 
well known to the Blue Birds and needed no in- 
vestigation, but the tickets were ready for dis- 
tribution the day before Decoration Day and 
Uncle Ben was truly surprised at the demand 
awaiting them. 

Ikey Einstein had been suggested by the Big 


42 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


Brother's Organization as an honest, shrewd 
little fellow who could be of great assistance in 
the matter of tickets, so the boy was interviewed 
and engaged at a salary to furnish information 
about any of the numerous applicants from the 
East Side, where Ikey lived. 

And that is why Micky Finn sought out Ikey 
when he wanted to secure a camp-ticket for 
Nelly. 


CHAPTER III 
UNCIyE ben's DRIIvE corps 

Little Nelly Finn had been admitted to the 
camp at Happy Hills, and was the happiest little 
girl there. Never had she seen such grass and 
flowers, to say nothing of the big trees and noisy 
brook in the Valley of Delight. The day she had 
stood with a lady, and several other children 
waiting for the train that left at noon for Happy 
Hills, Micky promised her to save his pennies 
and come for a visit to the Camp that Summer. 
Not only Micky, but Ikey, Skelly, and another 
boy, who had a shoe-shine box, agreed to visit 
Happy Hills. 

Nelly was established in the Nest next to Mag- 
gie, the Little Mother of six younger children — 
Maggie was eleven. Because of her motherly 
instincts, Maggie felt a grown-up interest in 
the newcomers, who were about Nelly’s age. 

“I see you don’t know what to do wid dese 
girls, Miss Martin/’ said Maggie, the afternoon 

43 


44 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

of the new arrivals, as the Mother Wings of 
that particular Nest seemed bewildered and wor- 
ried. 

“This is all new to me, little girl, and I am 
only here until a school-teacher can take my 
place,” replied Miss Martin. 

“My name’s Maggie,” suggested the Little 
Mother. 

“How did you know my name?” queried the 
lady, curiously. 

“I heer’n Miss Selina — she’s our Flutey Bird, 
you know what owns this place — tell Uncle Ben 
that six more little gals was cornin’ wid a Miss 
Martin.” 

“Maybe you can tell me where to find Unck 
Ben now ?” asked the city lady eagerly. 

“Yes’m! He’s beginnin’ a drill fer the boys. 
They has to grow to be fine scouts, brave police* 
men, and extry-brave firemen. You see we’stf 
goin’ to have a regerler city-run camp here, and 
Uncle Ben says boys must know how to proteck 
folks and guard us against fires and udder bad 
t’ings,” explained Maggie. 

“That’s fine! Where is the drill to take place? 


UNCLE BEN’S DRILL CORPS 45 

Maybe we can all go and watch them/’ said Miss 
Martin. 

“We kin ! I was just washin’ Freddy's han’s 
to take him wid me — he’s too little to leave be- 
hind, yeh see.” 

Miss Martin’s little flock of six understood 
that part of life, for* had not each one of them 
been scrubbed and polished with brown soap and 
coarse rags just before leaving the city? 

Freddy was soon cleansed from the results of 
making mud pies near the brook, and Maggie tri- 
umphantly led the way to the large green clear- 
ing where the drill was to take place. On the 
way she pointed out other Nests and explained 
who occupied them,, then she showed Miss Mar- 
tin the hospital, or clinic, as Maggie called it. 

“Dis Nest next to yourn is goin’ to have some 
blind kids in it, from the asylum up in the Bronx. 
Miss Flutey tol’ me not one of ’em ever saw 
anyt’ing on de outside world. She said all dey 
coul’ see was what was inside dere minds — do 
you b’lieve dat?” asked Maggie, doubtfully. 

“Oh yes, Maggie. Blind folks have no idea 
of the exterior world and so picture it for them- 


4 6 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

selves in their thoughts — that is anyone who has 
been born blind and never saw material things.” 

“I see!” murmured Maggie, slowly compre- 
hending. 

Then passing the next Nest, she continued 
explaining : 

“Them’s where the boys are campin’ just now. 
All the Nests fer the boys ain’t done yet, and 
most of dem have to live up in de row where 
all dat noise is cornin’ from.” 

“How old are the boys already here?” asked 
Miss Martin. 

“Half of ’em are cripples er sickly lookin’ kids 
what was in a asylum er hospital, so dat’s why 
dey ain’t runnin’ aroun’ playin’ ball er diggin’ 
farms.” 

“After the drill I’d like you to show us the 
farms,” suggested the lady. 

“All right — I’ll show you anyt’ing you likes 
to see,” replied Maggie, graciously, but eyeing 
the six little strangers to see how they took her 
importance. 

They now reached a rustic bridge spanning the 
shallow creek, and Nelly stopped to watch the 
fascinating ripples flow past under her feet. 


UNCLE BEN’S DRILL CORPS 47 

“Oh looka! Looka — Miss Martin! Dere’s a 
fish !” screeched Nelly, excitedly pointing at some 
tiny minnows darting about. 

The others crowded close to the railing to fol- 
low the direction of Nelly’s pointing finger, and 
great interest was manifested in the unusual 
sight. 

“Pooh! One of the bigger boys caught a fish 
yistiddy ! A real live fish, it was, an’ he said it 
was swimming in the big crick what comes from 
dis little one,” bragged Maggie, proudly. 

“Caught a real fish!” gasped the group of 
astonished city waifs. 

“Yep! And lemme tell you’se somet’ing else! 
Dere are reel berries a-growin’ on bushes over 
on dat hillside !” and Maggie pointed at a sunny 
slope a short distance from the camp grove. 

“My!” chorused most of the little girls. 

“An’ birds, an’ bumblebees, an’ snakes, an’ — 
oh, heaps of awful stinger things what you’se 
have to run from er jump over!” warned Mag- 
gie with awesome tones and rolling eyes to im- 
press her hearers. 

“Snakes won’t sting, Maggie, unless you tease . 
them. And even then there are many snakes 


48 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

quite harmless. As for a bumblebee! The big, 
clumsy fellow is as good-natured as a puppy,” 
said Miss Martin. 

“Say, Miss Martin, you knows an awful lot 
of stuff, don’t you?” exclaimed Maggie, admir- 
ingly. 

“I ought to, Maggie, as I am three times your 
age. Maybe you will know more than I do, when 
you grow up to be my age,” replied the lady, 
smiling at the earnest little face. 

All during this walk, the other children had 
been silent, as they were not yet quite at ease. 
All was so new and interesting that they had no 
words with which to express their feelings, but 
Maggie had been a Little Citizen almost two 
weeks, now, and so felt qualified to act as official 
guide to newcomers. 

“Mebbe Miss Marting will tell us somet’in’ 
about a bee er a snake ?” ventured Katy Kronen, 
a little girl of eight. 

“When we get back to the Nest I will tell you 
all about some snakes I have seen, and about 
the bees, too,” promised the Mother Wings, as 
they reached the open field where outdoor games 
and drills were to take place. 


UNCLE BEN’S DRILL CORPS 


49 


“Dere he is — ain’t he grand?” cried Maggie, 
excitedly. 

“Who — where ?” asked several voices. 

“Our Unde Ben — he’s really de Uncle to 
some kids what live in Oakdale. Dey made up 
dis camp, and Miss Selina what’s got a heap of 
money is lookin’ after us an’ payin’ de bills. 
Uncle Ben is her nephew, but everyone calls him 
Uncle Ben, ’stead of Mr. Ta’mage, an’ he says 
he likes to have so many nieces an’ nephews,” 
explained Maggie all in one breath. 

Miss Martin now had her first glance at the 
man she had heard so much of — not only in the 
Welfare work but also from the papers at the 
time of the Christmas Tree and Easter Picnic 
in New York. 

She saw a tall well-built man with the hap- 
piest, cheeriest face she had ever seen. No won- 
der everyone liked him so ! 

Maggie waved a hand energetically to attract 
his attention, and soon the man smiled and waved 
his hat at her. 

“Dere now — he’ll come over pritty soon,” 
sighed Maggie, with sublime faith in her proph- 
ecy. 


5 o THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

And sure enough ! As soon as Uncle Ben had 
taken down the names of the boys who were to 
enter a squad of Camp Police, he came over to 
welcome the lady he had not yet met. 

“Dis is my neighbor Mudder Wings, Uncle 
Ben,” said Maggie by way of introduction. 

The two smiled and felt much more at ease 
because of such an informal introduction than 
if it had been given by a diplomat. 

“I have heard of your educational work with 
the city children,” said Uncle Ben. 

“You have? Why I had no idea it was im- 
portant enough to be remembered by such a busy 
man as you are known to be,” commented Miss 
Martin. 

“It is most important to all who are sincerely 
interested in the welfare of our future citizens, 
because the work you are doing educates and 
familiarizes the children with Nature, so that 
they will grow kind and affectionate towards 
things that used to inspire fear and cruelty. I 
trust we will be able to keep you here this sum- 
mer to conduct a series of Nature talks for the 
Little Citizens?” said Uncle Ben. 

“I should like nothing better, Mr. Talmage, if 


UNCLE BEN’S DRILL CORPS 


5i 


I do not have to make my usual summer tour of 
camps for the purpose of creating an interest 
in Nature Study. I sent a few substitutes to try 
the work this year and so I may not have to go 
personally,” rejoined Miss Martin. 

“Let’s hope you may remain with us. We 
have a great work to accomplish here, Miss Mar- 
tin.” 

“Yes, I can see that. How I should love to 
be connected with such a plan, where money is 
no object, but the welfare of Little Citizens 
is the main idea. Now let me see what you 
plan to do this afternoon with the boys. I heard 
it was a drill.” 

“Yes, I am just organizing a staff of helpers 
to look after the general good of those at camp. 
Won’t you come over and stand under the shade 
of the trees while I give the boys their first 
lesson?” said Uncle Ben. 

So Miss Martin and her little companions fol- 
lowed Mr. Talmage across the grass to the shady 
spot he had designated. 

“Now boys! Attention! I shall open this 
first drill by giving you some good rules to guide 
your life in camp, and later, the Blue Birds and 


52 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

Bobolinks are going to distribute cards which 
they are now printing with these same rules and 
regulations. 

“First and foremost: You cannot repay the 
kind people and children who made this lovely 
country camp possible for you in a better way 
than to show kindness and thoughtfulness to 
everyone you meet. And when you go back to 
the city, to take with you the rule of doing unto 
others as you would be done by. If this Golden 
Rule is obeyed the world will be a happy place 
for everyone. 

“Every day, and every hour, you will find 
ways to show your gratitude to Miss Selina for 
this camp. It may be that a child is frightened 
at something — you can comfort and encourage 
it. Maybe a boys’ quarrel or fight is on — you 
can separate them and make peace. It is more 
than likely that someone will use slang or swear 
words, or call names or use improper English! 
You can correct them in a thoughtful way that 
will not be resented, but appreciated. 

“ 'The Guide for Little Citizens’ that we pub- 
lish in the little magazine each month, ought to 


UNCLE BEN’S DRILL CORPS 


53 

be well known by most of you now — how many 
here have had a copy of the magazine ?” 

Two-thirds of the hands went up and Uncle 
Ben nodded. 

“Well, for the benefit of the few who have not 
had a copy of our fine little monthly, I will ex- 
plain : 

“Our general motto is 'Do something for 
Somebody.’ 

“Our seven Nest Resolutions are as follows: 

“ 'A Little Citizen makes himself useful to 
others and is loyal to all friends, relatives, or 
foes, in thought and deed. 

“ 'A Little Citizen loves his Country and re- 
solves to be a good citizen. He loves everything 
in the land or sea — beast, bird, fish, or insect, 
and will not injure.or tease them. 

“ 'A Little Citizen loves and protects the trees, 
the flowers, and other growing things in Na- 
ture’s creation. 

“ 'A Little Citizen will care for all beautiful 
things : books, pictures, clothing, and everything 
useful, ornamental, instructive or entertaining. 

“ 'A Little Citizen will refrain from discour- 
tesy of any sort; from using vulgar language or 


54 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

being disobedient. In following these ideals each 
one will soon see the great improvement in all. 

“ ‘A Little Citizen resolves to daily seek oppor- 
tunity to accomplish some good thing — some- 
thing that will add to his character-building and 
do good to others. 

“ ‘A Little Citizen will help where help is 
needed, encourage the unhappy and hopeless, and 
be true to others as he would be true to his own 
best self/ 

“If everyone will remember these rules and use 
them wherever possible, you will find what a 
happy camp this will be for each one. 

“Now I want to speak of my firemen — a squad 
of the older boys who can be our official firemen 
for the summer camp. For this work I have 
chosen the ten boys who are standing at the left, 
over there. Come forward, firemen, and let me 
introduce you to the Little Citizens of Happy 
Hills. ,, 

Ten strong boys ranging from nine to twelve 
years of age now came over to Uncle Ben's side 
and stood eager to hear what he would have to 
say to them. 

“First of all, I want to tell you — and then have 


UNCLE BEN’S DRILL CORPS 


55 


you tell and teach the campers at Happy Hills — 
that most of the fires that destroy life and prop- 
erty are not due to accident as much as to care- 
lessness and mischief. It is ignorance of what 
to do in case of a fire that permits a small blaze 
to grow into a consuming flame that wrecks 
blocks of buildings and wastes millions of dol- 
lars worth of property. 

“If everyone knew just what to do and did it 
at once, you can understand that there would be 
little danger. Of recent years, the large schools 
in cities have introduced a course of lessons that 
take up 'First Aids' and 'Presence of Mind’ tests 
for the children so that they may be ready to 
apply such knowledge when needed. 

"You have most likely heard the proverb: 
'Fire makes a good servant, but a bad master.' 
Now just as long as we keep fire in its rightful 
place to do all sorts of work for us, and to keep 
us warm in winter, or to create steam in the 
water placed on it for many important services, 
then fire is the servant. But once let it get the 
least bit of headway through neglect, or mis- 
chief, or by any other cause, and it immediately 


56 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

consumes whatever it touches and feeds upon all 
it burns so that it becomes a raging demon. 

“A child can control a fire in the stove or in 
a lamp — all one has to do is to turn down the 
wick or pull out a damper. But once we let 
fire leap from its bounds, we need a force to 
fight it. And that is what I expect of you boys. 
To so train yourselves that in case of emergency, 
you will know instantly how to fight the demon, 
fire. 

“To help you all I can, I have invited one of 
New York's Fire Commissioners to visit us 
shortly and tell you many wise things I do not 
know in connection with this work. But long 
before he comes I want you to be practicing daily 
and have sham-fires. I have a hand-engine wait- 
ing in the great barn back of the tool-house, and 
enough hose to reach from the brook to any Nest 
or building in the woods. 

“I have also ordered, but they have not yet 
arrived, a set of small ladders and hooks and 
other implements useful in case of fire. All ap- 
paratus for the Fire Department will be kept 
in this new shed back of us, and no Little Citizen 


UNCLE BEN’S DRILL CORPS 


57 

is ever to be allowed inside this door, unless it 
be one of the boys detailed as a fireman. 

“You ten boys will have a dark-brown camp- 
uniform to show you are Firemen; and in case 
of a fire you will don the heavy overalls and 
caps kept in the fire-house.” 

As Uncle Ben explained the plan and held up 
a sample fireman’s uniform, the boys shouted 
and whistled and clapped with delight, for this 
sort of thing was very unusual and gratifying. 

“Now, Firemen, you may stand back while I 
call out our Police Force. The twelve boys on 
the right will step up.” 

The chosen Firemen retired after being intro- 
duced, and the twelve policemen eagerly ran over 
to Uncle Ben’s side. 

“These are to be our official policemen in 
camp. They are going to be taught all that a 
policeman needs to do and know, and they are 
responsible for the laws and good reputation of 
Happy Hills. If anyone needs help or advice 
about matters here or in any personal problem, 
the policeman must give what aid he can. 

“The police must see that rules and regula- 
' tions are carried out to the letter, and all games, 


58 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

drills, or other public gatherings must be or- 
dered by them, and all nuisances removed. 

“If a member of either Fire Department or 
Police Force is disloyal to his fellow-man or 
breaks his vow to live up to the laws governing 
his department, he will be discharged, and an- 
other boy elected to fill the vacant place. But I 
hope no such vacancies will occur.” 

Uncle Ben then mentioned other important 
things and good points in managing the camp, 
and told the police he had blue uniforms for 
them to wear when on duty. He held up a suit 
made of blue denim, and a cap to match, but no 
clubs were to be given to this police force! 
Weapons were tabooed by Uncle Ben. 

“Now, boys, I want each of you to 'do his bit' 
in this camp, and to drill well so that you can 
give a fine exhibition of your ability when called 
upon to use it. I expect the Blue Birds and 
Bobolinks at Happy Hills next week, and it will 
be a great surprise to them to see what we have 
accomplished in so short a time.” 

The boys quickly agreed to study and prac- 
tice well, so Uncle Ben smiled approvingly and 
called upon a group of girls to step forward. 


UNCLE BEN’S DRILL CORPS 


59 


There were six girls from ten to twelve years 
of age in one group, and four, of thirteen years, 
in another group. 

“Here you see six nurses who will have charge 
of the Little Citizens who should accidentally be 
scratched, cut or have any other physical trouble. 
These Nurses will have the right to go to the 
infirmary and use whatever they may need for a 
patient. But they will have to ask the grown-up 
in charge of the infirmary for the needed 
remedy. 

“These nurses will also see that Little Citizens 
are careful of their manner of living in camp, 
and will report any one who breaks the rules or 
is careless of the welfare of others. 

“The four big girls you see in the other group 
are Mother’s Helpers. Everyone knows what 
a Mother’s Helper is, and with these four Help- 
ers to go about and offer help to any little Mother 
Wings, there ought to be a chance for everyone 
to have a good time. 

“Take Maggie, for instance ! Maggie has six 
little brothers and sisters to look after, and they 
are a handful. Now one of these official 
Mother’s Helpers can help Maggie in the morn- 


6o THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


in g so that she need not be late for breakfast on 
account of having so many little ones to wash 
and dress,” explained Uncle Ben, smiling at 
Maggie. 

The latter heaved a deep sigh and said: “Oh 
t’ank you, Uncle Ben!” 

“Tomorrow morning at nine o’clock sharp, the 
Firemen will drill at this place, and at ten 
o’clock the Police Force will meet and drill,” 
said Uncle Ben, and the meeting was over for 
that day. 


CHAPTER IV 


THE BUJE BIRDS VISIT HAPPY HII.LS 

A week had passed by swiftly while the Fire- 
men and Police Force practiced and drilled con- 
stantly to become proficient in their work. And 
the official nurses found many little ways in 
which to help with the smaller children and when 
anyone was in trouble. Miss Martin had thought 
out a plan, and was beginning a story-telling 
class to be held directly after luncheon in the big 
Refectory. She purposely called it story-telling 
so the Little Citizens wouldn’t think they were 
being bored with lessons or class. 

“Now, boys, show me what you can do today — 
for tomorrow our visitors are coming, you 
know,” said Uncle Ben, as he called his Firemen 
and Police together at the Big Park, as it was 
styled. 

But there were still other squads waiting to 
show off what they could do, and these groups 

had not yet been introduced to the general public. 

61 


62 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


“HI tell you, my friends, what I discovered 
after our last week’s meeting. I found that we 
needed a Camp Cleaning Department and a 
Health Department. The Camp Cleaners are 
elected every two weeks, and the ones doing their 
work best during the two weeks win medals. 
Those in the Health Department work a month, 
and are given a certificate if the time has been 
well applied to duty. The reason for limiting the 
Cleaning Department to two weeks is because 
there is much daily work to attend to, and this 
Force really works more in two weeks than any 
other department in a month. 

“The Nurses are under the Health Depart- 
ment and both the Health and Nurse Depart- 
ments are supervised by the Infirmary Head. 

“Tomorrow morning the Street Cleaning De- 
partment begins work. Each of the twelve boys 
is equipped with a big round basket on a push- 
mobile, and a broom and shovel. The paths that 
lead through or across the camp-site will be 
cleaned of papers, or any other trash that is 
likely to fly about where there are so many chil- 
dren. It is the duty of every Mother Wings to 
have the trash-bag waiting in front of the Nest 


BLUE BIRDS VISIT HAPPY HILLS 63 

so the Cleaning Department can remove the bags 
and leave empty ones in their place — exactly as 
we do in New York. 

“The Health Board must visit and inspect the 
Nests each day and report any lack of attention 
or seeming cause for concern to the Mother's 
Helpers, Nurses, and Infirmary Head. Then 
the Helper investigates at once and the Nurse 
sees if there is anything she can do, and both re- 
port to the Infirmary. If it is serious the Head 
immediately attends to it. 

“Our Health Board wears this uniform," and 
Uncle Ben held up white percale overalls with 
blue stripes on the collar and cuffs of the under- 
blouse that went with it. 

“And our Street Cleaning Department wears 
this uniform," then a pair of white overalls 
without stripes, but a white helmet to match the 
overalls, were shown to the enthusiastic Little 
Citizens. 

“Isn't this the most fun you ever heard of?" 
cried one boy, who was a Health Officer. 

“Oh ! I wish we could live at Happy Hills all 
the time!" came from a Policeman, wistfully. 

“Now Little Citizens, we will stand back and 


64 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

watch a trial drill of our brave Firemen,” called 
Uncle Ben. 

The big boys belonging to the fire department 
now ran to the shed they had called the “Fire 
House,” and were soon in their uniforms. Then 
they performed as only eager, enthusiastic boys 
can before a number of spectators. They were 
applauded loudly and Uncle Ben said they were 
ready for the Grand Exhibit on the morrow. 

The Police Force drilled next, and they, too, 
were heartily applauded. The second exhibition 
ended, Uncle Ben ordered all to fall in line and 
march away to play. 

“Wish we had a brass band, Mr. Ta’mage! 
Wouldn’t it be fun to have parades !” called the 
Fire Chief. 

“Say, Bill, that’s a fine idea! Are there any 
Little Citizens here who can play on an instru- 
ment?” asked Uncle Ben. 

“I kin play a fiddle!” squeaked a weak boy’s 
voice. 

“I’ve got a mouth-organ,” called another. 

“I beat the drum !” 

“I ust to play a fife.” 

“I can blow a horn — I got paid fer it on the 


BLUE BIRDS VISIT HAPPY HILLS 65 

East Side, when any patent medicine quack 
wanted to get a crowd around to buy his stuff/' 
' Emitted one of the big Firemen. 

And a score or so of boys all cried that they 
wanted to play something in the band. Uncle 
Ben knew music was a great thing in a com- 
munity even if it had a discordant sound at 
first; it would be helpful and elevating for them 
even to try and play. 

“I'm going to act on Bill's suggestion at once ! 
I will wire Mr. Richards to pick out the instru- 
ments we may need to begin a Camp Band. He 
will know what to buy," declared Uncle Ben. 

“Say, Mister Ta'mage, tell him not to waste 
his good money buyin' 'em new — he kin git all 
kinds and all sizes of music instruments at a 
pawn-shop along the Bowery. Me brudder got 
a fine bass horn at one, fer a quarter of what it 
was wuth !" bawled a big East Side German boy. 

“Yah! Hear Dutchy talk! It takes your big 
brudder what was practicin' music fer yer Kai- 
ser, to grab a bargain!" jeered Young Italy. 

“He didn't not! My brudder is Mowin' his 
horn fer a enlist camp on Long Island — so now ! 


66 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


An’ my fadder and mudder are natural Ameri- 
caners, I want to tell you yet!” retorted Bill. 

“Here, here, boys! No war arguments at 
Happy Hills! It is absolutely forbidden! Bill 
is as good a citizen as I am and should anyone 
question my veracity on the subject, he can leave 
camp now! We don’t want to give our Police 
Force any unnecessary trouble and I know what 
such a discussion will lead up to.” 

“Mr. Ta’mage, I gotta cymbals to my house 
in New York. My uncle left them wid us when 
he was drafted,” said another boy from the 
ranks. 

“You write at once, Jimmy, and ask your 
mother to send them on to us, — collect. You can 
play the cymbals in the band,” declared Uncle 
Ben. 

But that brought down a flood of trouble upon 
his unsuspecting head, as every boy at camp 
instantly yelled and begged for some position in 
the new Brass Band, although many of them 
had not the slightest idea of the difference be- 
tween a half-note and a fish-worm. 

“It all boils down to this: We’ve got to buy 
instruments and all take part in the band. The 


BLUE BIRDS VISIT HAPPY HILLS 67 

girls will have to take up the choral work and 
give musicals in singing while we accompany 
them in playing,” determined Uncle Ben. 

The Blue Birds and Bobolinks arrived about 
noon, the day following the drill and the decision 
to start a brass band. As the noisy party 
stopped before Aunt Selina’s door, each one tried 
to crane his neck for a glimpse of the wonderful 
camp they had been the means of founding. But 
the trees screened everything from curious eyes ; 
still the shouting and laughter could be heard, 
although even that was mellowed by the distance 
from the house. 

"Oh, Uncle Ben, we are wild to see the Little 
Citizens. Aunt Selina and you have not written 
half enough to satisfy us!” cried Ruth Talmage, 
as she jumped at her uncle, the moment the auto-, 
mobile stopped. 

"Uncle Ben, Mr. Richards telephoned us this 
morning early, that he couldn’t come with us. 
You must have told him to get some stuff in New 
York. He said he would attend to it today and 
leave the city on a midnight train, so’s to be here 
tomorrow,” said Ned Talmage, delivering the 
message as he was asked. 


68 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


“That's fine, Ned! If Mr. Richards can get 
what I want there will be a heap of fun at Happy 
Hills this summer/’ replied Uncle Ben. 

“As if there was no fun here!” laughed Miss 
Selina. 

“Come on, — come on, and don’t stand there 
talking! I want to see the camp,” called Don 
Starr, catching hold of Jinks’ hand to pull him 
away. 

“Wait a moment! Don’t you want something 
to eat?” questioned Mr. Talmage. 

“But why can’t we eat in the Refectory with 
the Citizens?” wondered Meredith Starr aloud. 

“Sure thing, Uncle Ben! We don’t v/ant a 
ready-made house with fine furniture and things, 
when we have a dandy camp right at hand where 
a fellow can rough it for a few days!” added 
Don, and he felt very impressive with the man- 
ner in which he said “rough it.” 

The Little Citizens were expecting their young 
benefactors, and the whole camp was as spick 
and span as a Street Cleaning Department could 
make it ; and every child was polished till it shone, 
thanks to the Mother’s Helpers; and the Police 
Force was uniformed and waiting at cross paths 


BLUE BIRDS VISIT HAPPY HILLS 69 

of the camp ready to salute the group of Blue 
Birds and Bobolinks the moment they passed 
the City Line. Only the Fire Department was 
invisible, but they were waiting impatiently at 
the Fire House for the signal that would bring 
them out in a glorious show. 

For be it known, my friends, that the Police 
Force, the Street Cleaning Department, and the 
Fire Company, had planned a secret all unknown 
to Uncle Ben, or any Little Citizen — at least a 
non-official citizen — that meant the girls, as 
every boy in camp belonged to some Civic De- 
partment or other and wore its uniform. 

The secret was so well guarded that not even 
I had a peep of it, but it was dreadfully exciting 
as one could tell by the flushed faces and mean- 
ing signals that passed between the important 
branches of the Camp Government. 

“Dere dey come — jus’ leavin’ de house !” called 
Jimmy, who was perched up on an electric light 
pole to spy. 

“Which way are dey takin’ — Primrose Walk 
or Daffodil Lane?” asked an eager voice from 
the crowd. 

“Cornin’ straight down Daffodil Lane — gee! 


70 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

dem boys what calls demselves Bobolinks are 
swells all right !” said Jimmy, as he slid quickly 
down the pole and joined his comrades. 

“How many of ’em?” asked a boy. 

“ ’Bout six er eight — big and little.” 

“How little?” came from, several small boys. 

“Two look to be about eight, some look ten 
and de udders about Dutchy’s age,” explained 
Jimmy, which goes to tell the reader that Bill, 
the boy of German parentage had to suffer the 
nickname of “Dutchy” in spite of Uncle Ben’s 
protests. A boy will be a boy the world over ! 

“Now — all ready for the cry!” warned the 
Fire Chief. 

“One, two, three — yell!” 

Just as Uncle Ben and his little friends came 
up to the camp-boundary line, the Little Citizens 
gave a war-cry of : 

“Lit ! Lit ! Lit-tle Cits! 

Cit ! Cit ! Cit-i-zens ! 

Unc! Unc! Uncle Ben! 

Hurrah for the Prince of Men! 

Bob! Bob! Bob-o-links! 

Blue ! Blue ! Blue Birds too ! 

Aunt ! Aunt ! Aunt S’li-na ! 

’Rah ! ’Rah! Flutey Mah!” 


BLUE BIRDS VISIT HAPPY HILLS 71 

The concerted chorus, and the syncopated 
action of the scores of hearty voices was deafen- 
ing to the new-comers, especially as it was unex- 
pected; but it was most satisfying as the laughter 
and hurrahs attested the moment the welcome 
was ended. 

Aunt Selina laughed and laughed at the way 
the Little Citizens ’rahed for Flutey Mah ! 

The Blue Birds and Bobolinks were then 
escorted about the wonderful camp and shown 
everything important or otherwise. Even the 
mud-pies made by Maggie’s baby brother that 
morning had to be shown and laughed over ! 

“Now, my Publishing Friends, we will adjourn 
to the Fire House and watch the Fire Company 
drill, ” announced Uncle Ben. 

“What Fire Company?” asked Don, amazed — 
as were the other visitors, too. 

“You’ll soon see! Have you failed to see the 
Police Squad keeping order about the town?” 
laughed Uncle Ben. 

So eager and curious about other things had 
the Blue Birds and Bobolinks been, that they had 
not seen the stiff boys at guard in blue uniforms. 

“Well, I never!” exclaimed Ruth. 


72 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“ Whose idea is that?” questioned Meredith. 

Without reply, Uncle Ben gave a signal to his 
police and the men saluted, turned upon their 
heel, and marched away in single file towards the 
Fire House. 

“Oh! I want to be a fireman, too! Isn't it 
fun!” cried Don, running after the departing 
Force much as a small boy would at a circus 
parade. 

“Now, come and see my Firemen drill,” added 
Uncle Ben, laughing at the amazement on the 
faces about him. 

“How lovely!” cried Vene Starr, as she real- 
ized what had been planned by Uncle Ben for 
their entertainment. 

Immediately after the Blue Birds and Bobo- 
links were stationed on a small platform near the 
fire house, a Policeman rang the fire-gong in the 
center of the camp-town. It was a great iron 
hoop hung upon a cross-beam and was sounded 
by striking it with a bar of metal. 

Not until this moment had Uncle Ben noticed 
anything unusual about the Park, but now he 
saw a column of smoke issuing from a structure 
at one end of the field that had not been there 


BLUE BIRDS VISIT HAPPY HILLS 73 

the day before. It was loosely built of old boards 
and discarded lumber thrown aside by the car- 
penters when building the Nests. He understood 
what it meant, too. 

The moment the fire-gong sounded, the Little 
Citizens standing about to watch the fun, began 
yelling at the top of their lungs: “Fire! Fire! 
Save us from the fire !” 

Then they all started to run for the temporary 
house at the end of the field. At the same time, 
the Fire Department flung open the doors of its 
house and rushed out pulling the hand-engine 
at their heels. The boys with the hose reel fol- 
lowed, and last came the Hook and Ladder Team. 

All made for the now flaming structure and 
naturally, the visitors ran too, to watch at close 
hand the daring and bravery of the Fire Depart- 
ment. Uncle Ben hoped the sparks from the fire 
would not start anything else as it was too near 
the Nests for safety. 

The Fire Engine reached the scene, and while 
they were getting ready to pump water from the 
creek into and through the hose-pipes, the other 
firemen were screwing nozzles to the hose, and 


74 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

connecting up the lengths so that it would reach 
the burning dwelling. 

Other firemen were placing ladders against the 
side of the frail structure to pretend they were 
climbing up to save lives, but Uncle Ben pro- 
tested quickly. 

“Don't dare too much, boys! The shack will 
collapse with a suddenness that will give you no 
time to get away! Don't scale the ladders!" 

While he spoke, other boys were using axes 
and rams on the wooden frame to show how a 
closed and locked house can be made to give way 
before a fireman. But the advice reached the 
excited boys too late ! The blows from ram and 
axe had shaken the loose frame, and the flames 
on the inside had eaten a way through the corner- 
posts that held up the shack. 

Just as the weight of Bill was brought full 
against the side of the building, the whole thing 
fell in like a house of cards. The ladder and fire- 
man fell with it. Instantly a dense smoke arose 
from the fresh fuel, and sparks flew out in every 
direction. 

“Life Savers! Life Savers!" yelled the few 
boys who had seen the accident, and they rushed 


BLUE BIRDS VISIT HAPPY HILLS 75 

in to grab Dutchy from the leaping tongues of 
flame that now licked up the wood. 

The firemen at the creek heard shouting and 
calling but they thought it was all part of the 
game so they began pumping water into the hose, 
and momentarily expected to see a fine stream 
played upon the fire. 

But the nozzle had been dropped when Bill 
fell headlong into the fire and the two firemen 
ran to help drag him out; now the nozzle lay 
pointing directly at the Blue Birds and Bobolinks 
who were intensely concerned over pulling Bill 
safely out of the fire. 

Suddenly a great stream of water shot out of 
the nozzle and quickly drenched the girls stand- 
ing in its pathway. Don, taking in the situation 
at a glance, ran over to hold the hose properly 
and turn it upon the blaze. 

He secured the nozzle all right, but in turning 
toward the fire he had to sweep it about in a 
circle, and in so doing, the rush of water from 
the hose managed to drench everyone in the ra- 
dius of its swirl. 

Amidst the screaming from the girls and the 
shouting advices from the boys, the firemen 


7 6 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

yelled and worked, while Don did his best to flood 
everyone near the almost burnt-down building 
with the stream pouring incessantly from the 
nozzle that was being so carelessly directed by 
him. 

“For goodness sake who’s driving that flood 
after me wherever I run to get away from it?” 
now bawled Uncle Ben, as nearly angry as he 
had ever been. 

“Here, you! Gimme dat hose — cain’t ye see 
ye ain’t sendin’ a drop on de fire but soakin’ yer 
fren’s!” shouted Jimmy, as he caught the nozzle 
from Don, and poured one last flood down 
Dutchy’s back. 

When poor Dutchy Bill could gasp again, he 
managed to say: “Did any of you’se blockheads 
t’ink a feller coul’ burn wid all de creek emptyin’ 
itself on his back!” 

But that was only his way of showing how 
thankful he was for the timely aid given him by 
his companions. For he would have been seri- 
ously injured had not the other boys been quick 
to drag him forth from the flames. 

“That was some fire, boys !” declared the Chief, 


BLUE BIRDS VISIT HAPPY HILLS 77 

delightedly, as he ordered the Company back to 
their quarters. 

“I thought it was a flood — not a fire!” com- 
mented Ned, as he tried to wring out his light 
summer coat. 

“We all look as if we had just come out of the 
ocean,” added Dot, grinning at the clinging or- 
gandie dresses of her companions. 

“Still, it was a good blaze and heaps of excite- 
ment, and that’s all a fellow wants at a real fire, 
you know,” explained Jinks, as he remembered 
the fire where Mete and he had saved some lives. 

“If that were all that was needed at a fire then 
every city fire would be a success as there is al- 
ways excitement to be had and a big blaze if you 
give it time,” said Uncle Ben, who had recovered 
his good-humor. 

The fire apparatus was replaced in the house 
and the brave firemen came out to be congratu- 
lated on their prowess. Don being the only dry 
Bobolink of his party, stood watching the boys, 
and finally said: 

“Uncle Ben, you ought to have given a medal 
for bravery! Bill scaled the ladder in spite of 
danger to life and limb.” 


78 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“ We’re going to give you the medal this time !” 
replied Uncle Ben, seriously. 

“Me! What for — what did I do?” 

“You wasted more water than Happy Hills 
uses in a month, and you spoiled a dozen or so 
good dresses and suits, so we will present you* 
with a leather medal !” 

At that the older children laughed merrily, and 
Don knew a leather medal was nothing to be 
proud of; still he kept his tongue under control 
until he had had time to ask someone what a 
leather medal meant anyway ! 


CHAPTER V 


, miss martin's tatk 

The Blue Birds and Bobolinks had to hurry 
to the kitchen where a good-natured cook and 
kitchen girl offered to dry their wet clothes. 
Meantime, the hapless boys and girls would have 
to wear overalls just as the Little Citizens did 
for work. 

The majority of the Little Citizens had fol- 
lowed their visitors to the big kitchen and when 
the transformed Blue Birds came out in blue 
denim jumpers, everyone laughed. 

“What can we do while we're waiting for our 
clothes to dry?" asked Dot Starr, who never 
could keep quiet a moment. 

“Let Miss Martin tell one of her stories !" sug- 
gested Nelly. 

“She's an awful good story-teller! You just 
oughter hear one," added Maggie, with the air 
of one who knows. 

“If you will all sit down on the Refectory floor 

79 


8o THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


while we are waiting for dry clothes, I will tell 
you a short story,” agreed Miss Martin. And 
everyone sat down just where he or she hap- 
pened to be. 

“What shall it be?” asked the lady. 

Just then a hop-toad jumped upon the platform 
of the Refectory floor and almost landed in Betty 
Blue Bird’s lap. 

“Oh, oh! A horrid toad!” cried she, jumping 
up to shake herself free from the disagreeable 
contact. 

“I’ll tell you a story about a nice little toad!” 
laughed Miss Martin, instantly. 

“Oh yes, and cure Betty of her dread of wood- 
creatures,” added Dot, eagerly. 

“That little toad only hopped up to say, 'Glad 
to see you in the country, children!’ because he 
is so happy here himself, he wants everyone to 
feel as happy as he does. 

“You see Speckles — that is the toad’s name, 
I’m sure — had had a dreadful long season of it 
last winter as he lay dozing under the old tree- 
roots over there. You will find a deep hole run- 
ning under the roots, and in the fall the wind 


MISS MARTIN’S TALK 


blows leaves and other dry material into the open- 
ing* to keep out the cold. 

“Speckles has a wide mouth and great shining 
eyes, but his eyes could see nothing to eat in the 
tunnel where he waited for spring, and his 
mouth had chewed nothing since the cold blast 
of winter had driven him to cover late in the 
fall. 

“Speckles was too tired and cold and hungry 
to force a way out to the open until he was quite 
sure there would be a fair-sized meal for his 
empty stomach, so he waited and dozed some 
more. As he dozed he wondered — and that made 
a dream you know — where Spot, his mate, could 
be. Was she still sleeping or was she out and 
working for something to eat ? 

“That made Speckles sit up! He rubbed his 
button eyes with a fore-foot and yawned — oh 
what a yawn from that great mouth! He de- 
termined to go out for some air. Perhaps, who 
knows — there might be a tidbit about some- 
where to ease the gnawing in his insides ! 

“The dry leaves were soon pushed out and 
forth came Speckles, but a very different looking 


82 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

toad from the fat one that went into winter 
quarters the previous fall. 

" 'Good-day, Mr. Cricket P said Speckles, po- 
litely, to a very tender-looking cricket that sat 
just above his reach on a twig. 

"Being once removed on the plane above a 
common toad, Mr. Cricket never deigned to no- 
tice the polite greeting. Had the toad been 
above, the entire scene would have changed in- 
stantly ! Perhaps proud Mr. Cricket would have 
been the suppliant for life and liberty. 

"Speckles hopped over to the tunnel to which 
he had escorted his mate the season before, and 
now he churked a sickly roundelay to wake her 
from her dreams. Spot was having a glorious 
dream of bugs and maggots and all kinds of 
toothsome dainties, and the faint call from her 
mate failed to rouse her the first time. Again 
he chirruped, a bit louder and stronger this time, 
and Spot awoke with a shock to find her feast 
vanish ! It was but a dream ! 

"Spot then waddled out — she need not have 
waddled, as she was thin and scrawny, but she 
was still dreaming that she had stuffed herself 
at the feast, so she waddled. Then, too, her 


MISS MARTIN’S TALK 83 

joints were stiff from the cramped position she 
had been in for many months. 

“ ^a, Spot, my dear!’ saluted Speckles, as he 
saw his mate stumbling from the winter resort. 

“'Well, Speck, have you found any dinner?’ 
was the first house-wifely question from Spot. 

“ T met Mr. Cricket, but he seemed very lean 
and unsatisfying, so I passed him up,’ replied 
Speckles. 

“ 'Oh, did you? Or did he hop up himself?’ 
tittered Spot. 

“ 'Isn’t it all the same, my dear? I did not eat 
him!’ 

''Spot gave a sleepy look at her spouse but said 
nothing. 

" 'I have been thinking, my dear wife, that 
perhaps some of our friends may hold a musicale 
at the frog-pond tonight — shall we hop down and 
see? We may find some juicy bugs on the way, 
too.’ 

" 'Yes, let us be off ! I must find a home for 
the children as soon as possible, too, and perhaps 
the tepid water of the mud-hole will be just right 
for the eggs.’ 

“So the pair hopped away from the trees and 


84 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

were soon at a small spot beside the creek, where 
the water had made a tiny bay in the bank. On 
the way they found a spider and a few thin ants, 
but what was such a tiny mouthful to such hun- 
gry toads? 

“On the muddy brink of the small inlet, Spot 
sat and wondered ! Here she had laid a number 
of tiny eggs the spring before, and these had 
hatched out into fine, fat little tadpoles. How 
well she remembered the day the tads turned into 
tiny toads with wide gaps fpr mouths and bright 
button eyes like her own, and had hopped out of 
the water to prance about and play with each 
other ! 

“Where now were all those dear children? 
Would any of them remember the old home-spot 
and return to bring their grand-children, and 
gladden the old frogs? 

“ ‘Oh, well/ sighed Spot, Tt is the way of all 
human nature ! Once the child is grown it 
throws off all restraint and protecting care of 
parents and plunges headlong into life!’ 

“But Speckles interrupted her thought by call- 
ing her attention to an old decayed log under 
which he had just burrowed. 


MISS MARTIN’S TALK 85 

“ ‘Spot — come quick! A fine mess of bugs 
here P 

“And Spot jumped over to gorge herself on the 
feast — almost as delicious a feast as in the dream, 
but far more satisfying than the dream-feast had 
been. 

“Spot then made her way carefully down the 
muddy bank and waddled out to water that 
reached to her nose. The rest of her body was 
submerged. There she sat all night, listening to 
the singing of the male toads who serenaded 
their mates on the banks, while their wives were 
attending to family duties. 

“Speckles sang and sang, too, as he sat on the 
grassy bank just above Spot where she was lay- 
ing the yearly batch of eggs. 

“At the first streak of dawn, Speckles whis- 
pered: ‘Spot, the day is breaking — we must 

away to our home.’ * 

“Spot scrambled out at that, and followed her 
mate to the woods, saying as she went : ‘I wish 
we could have a grand family reunion this year, 
Speckles. When the new eggs hatch out into 
polliwogs, I would like to have our children of 
last year come home and meet the babies/ 


86 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


“ 'That is a silly mother's sentiment ! I sup- 
pose our large family of last year is well-scatr 
tered in every direction this year.' 

"Spot said nothing but sighed for she knew 
how useless it was to wish an impossible wish ! 

"Some time after this event, the eggs laid by 
Spot that lovely moonlight night, hatched into 
queer little black things with but two legs and a 
slippery tail. Some of the saucy polliwogs 
whisking about in the outside creek jeered : 

"'Pooh! You Tads! Where are your front 
legs?' 

" 'They'll grow soon, and when they do we'll 
come out there and duck you impudent Polli- 
wogs!' threatened one Tad, named Tibby. 

"At the bare mention of 'duck' every Tad 
jumped and even Tibby Tad shivered with appre- 
hension, for it was well known that a duck was 
a deadly foe to a Polliwog or a Tadpole. 

" 'Quick — run to cover ! Here comes a duck !' 
shouted a Polliwog from the larger creek. 

"Instantly every Tad burrowed down through 
the muddy inlet and remained hidden until they 
heard the Polly s' laugh and jeer, then the Tads 
knew they had been made sport of. 


MISS MARTIN’S TALK 87 

“ Tm going to swim out there and slap that 
Polliwog’s face!’ exclaimed Tibby Tad, as he 
started up from the soft mud. 

“Just then a dreadful thing happened on the 
surface of the water above him. A big black 
thing fell ker-splash into the pool, and the rip- 
ples circled about as it tried to scramble forth 
again. 

“The big black bug saw the Tads, however, 
and made a quick dive for them. Alas! Some 
were caught and gobbled up, but Tibby escaped 
without a scratch ! 

“ ‘That wasn’t a duck, but it was just as bad 
as one,’ said Tibby to himself, as he decided not 
to swim out to the big creek that day but stick 
close to the home-bank of mud. 

“Some time after this, the other legs began 
to grow and the Tads who had survived the 
raids of ducks, beetles, bugs and other enemies, 
found they could hop feebly to the bank. 

“ ‘Why this is our birthday — we are six weeks 
old today,’ exclaimed Tibby, as he managed to 
scramble out of the puddle and sit up in the 
grass, panting after the unusual exertion. 

“He watched his brothers and sisters crawl 


88 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


up beside him, and after a time, they began to 
jump and have the most fun! Leap-frog was 
too strenuous for that day, as the little legs would 
wobble when they tried to hop. 

“ 'Come with me, Tina/ coaxed Tibby to his 
sister, as he found she was the sturdiest of the 
lot who had hopped from the pool. 

"As Tibby and Tina hopped away, a few of 
their brethren followed. Now and then the Tads 
— or Toads they now were — stopped to feast 
upon an unknown tidbit, but they ate it whether 
it was familiar and certified by the Pure Food 
Commission or not! They ate and ate, every 
sort of bug or worm they found, and not a single 
thought was wasted on Mr. Hoover or his war- 
time rations! Tibby and Tina were not very 
patriotic in their self-denial that first day out 
of the puddle ! 

"Tibby led the way, for he was the bravest 
of the party. Soon he came to a tall grassy 
place where he heard a queer sound. 

" 'Tina, do you hear ?’ asked Tibby. 

"'Yes, brother, what is it?’ 

" 'No time to ask — run, Tina !’ cried Tibby, and 
the two made a mighty leap just in time to escape 


MISS MARTIN’S TALK 


a quail that pounced down upon the tiny toads 
and gobbled one quickly out of sight. 

“ ‘It was Clumsy that disappeared V sighed 
Tina, all sympathy for the awkward little toad 
that could not escape death. 

“ Watch out for other assassins! We know 
not where the next may lurk/ whispered Tibby, 
for he was poetical as well as practical, you see. 

“Tina admired her big brother and watched 
carefully as he had advised, so she was the first 
to spy a swift animal with a bushy tail. What 
was it? How it did jump — almost as fast and 
high and far as a toad! 

“'Run, Tina, Run! It’s a squirrel!” shouted 
Tibby, as the tiny toads stood petrified with fear. 

“The squirrel soon had the smallest and weak- 
est of the family and that left four to wander 
along heart-broken over their loss. 

“ T fear we shall end like the 'ten little nig- 
gers that sat on a gate/ wailed Tibby, the poem 
of those unlucky little black children appealing 
to him at the moment. 

" 'Tibby, will you or I be the last one to swing 
on the gate and then fall off, so there was none?’ 
mournfully asked Tina. 


9 o THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“Suddenly, before Tibby could reply, there was 
a happy cry and two fat toads appeared who 
greeted the four baby toads. 

“ 'Oh my darlings — it is Mamma Spot! Don’t 
you know me?’ 

“Then Speckles puffed up proudly as he saw 
young Tibby and the baby brother, and said, 
'Tib, my son, I am glad to see you have brought 
the children safely home.’ 

“What became of the other tads in the puddle 
I never could find out, but the four we followed 
to the woods lived happily with Speckles and Spot 
and as they grew up and married they raised 
their Tads in that same puddle. 

“The pretty toad that jumped into Betty’s lap 
a while ago was either Father Speckles or Tibby, 
who sniffed something to eat and wondered if we 
humans ate the same delicious bugs that he pre- 
ferred above everything else.” 

Everyone clapped at the ending of the story 
and Betty laughed gayly, as she admitted that 
she would like to find Tibby, just to tell him how 
glad she was he had escaped from his enemies. 


CHAPTER VI 


UTTEE MOTHER MAGGIE 

The clothes were dry, and the Blue Birds and 
Bobolinks were again dressed, but Uncle Ben 
advised them to keep the overalls to protect their 
good clothes while they were playing in camp. 

Tea — it was called supper at Happy Hills — 
was served at 6 p. m. sharp each day, and now the 
Refectory was soon arranged for the children. 
As the Oakdale visitors intended having the 
evening meal at the camp Refectory, a table was 
set out for them. 

Maggie found the neighboring table the one 
occupied by the adored Blue Birds, and very 
little did she eat that noon ! Even the table man- 
ners of her six little sisters and brothers failed to 
distract her attention from watching the girls at 
Uncle Ben’s table. ^ 

Supper over, Uncle Ben said: “Now what shall 
we do?” 


91 


92 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“Let’s go over and look at the Little Farms,” 
said Ned. 

“Oh yes, Uncle, you see we want to know what 
to say in the next issue of the magazine when we 
offer prizes to the farmers of Happy Hills,” said 
Ruth. 

The Little Citizens had gathered around and 
now looked eager to hear more of the prize idea. 
Uncle Ben surmised as much and laughed. 

“I doubt if the Little Citizens have heard of 
your plan to distribute prizes. I will tell them 
now. 

“Citizen Farmers, I beg to announce that the 
Blue Birds and Bobolinks are about to give a 
prize for the best kept farm in camp, another 
for the largest vegetable of ten varieties raised; 
the ten to be radishes, beets, cabbage, carrots, tur- 
nips, squash, beans, potatoes, onions, and corn. 

“Another prize will be given for the greatest 
amount of good produce raised on one farm this 
summer. Yet another will be awarded to the 
farmer who makes the most of rotating crops. 
I have explained to you what that is. 

“As most of you have just started the farms 
you can all begin fairly to try for the prizes. The 


LITTLE MOTHER MAGGIE 


93 


age and size of the farmer will have much to do 
with the judgment of the Blue Birds. So I sug- 
gest that the farmers be divided in classes, one 
for boys of eight and over, one for girls of eight 
and over; another class for children — boys and 
girls — under eight years of age. The prize will 
be duplicated for these classes. Any remarks ?” 

There were none, so Uncle Ben led his young 
visitors to inspect the farms. 

“Mr. Ta'mage, we'se gotta street cleanin' 
squad, an' a police force, an' a health board wid 
nusses, an' to say nuttin’ of dem firemen, but we 
hain't got no head farmers in camp to show help- 
ers all de time, what we wants to know,” ven- 
tured a voice from the crowd that followed at 
Uncle Ben's heels. 

“That's so! Farmer Jones is master here, but 
he can't be at everyone's beck and call. We’ll 
have to plan a farmer club tomorrow, and I will 
send down books and pamphlets for all to read 
or study.” 

“Why can't some gals be in the farmer clubs 
as well as the boys that have everyt’ing goin’,” 
remarked Mother Maggie. 

“You're right, Maggie ! We men have to share 


94 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

alike with you women now that you have the vote 
in New York State !” said Uncle Ben, smiling 
at his Citizens. 

At the Little Farms the visitors were delighted 
to see what had already been done. Mr. Jones 
was there to explain things. 

“You see, we worked very hard at digging the 
plots when the first Little Citizens arrived at 
camp, and now, as new arrivals come each day, 
they too are set to work at their farms; so we 
will have some farms harvesting while others are 
just sprouting their first crop. 

“I showed the children how to dig and work 
over the soil until it was right for planting. Then 
I taught them how to choose the right seed for 
this time of the year, and each child was shown 
how to plant the seed chosen by him. 

“Now you see, some plants are already grow- 
ing fine, and some are just sprouting from the 
ground. Some farms have been seeded and are 
not yet sprouting, and some have just been made 
ready to plant. 

“We farmers think it great fun to hunt the 
bugs and worms that would injure our plants. 
We are very careful to keep the ground well 


LITTLE MOTHER MAGGIE 


95 


watered so the roots can keep healthy and feed 
the green shoots above the earth. We have some 
fine radishes that will soon be large enough to 
pull for dinner. 

“Bill's radishes are the best and finest, and he 
will soon be able to pull some and sell them to 
the cook at the Refectory at market price." 

This attracted attention to Bill's garden and 
the children took great pride in the order and 
neatness of the farm-plot. 

“Looks as if Bill might win a prize for neat- 
ness," said Uncle Ben. 

“You'se diden' say what de prize was! Ef 
it's going to be a choice of t'ings, lemme take cash, 
'cuz I'm goin' to save all dis summer an' lay by to 
git a farm fer us all ferever!" vowed Maggie, 
enthusiastically, as she waved her arm at her six 
brethren. 

“We will consider that matter for you, Mag- 
gie, and decide what the prize shall be," agreed 
Uncle Ben. 

As the children went from one well-kept farm 
to the next, something interesting was learned 
from each plot. 

For instance the Blue Birds heard from Farm- 


9 6 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

er Jones that a radish was really a root. Be- 
cause of its red color it could be mistaken for 
fruit or a bulbous vegetable, but it grows and 
produces stems with leaves, so it must be classed 
with root vegetables. 

“Besides all this, a thin root tapers from the 
round bulb. It is this long tapering root that 
finds the food and drink in the deep, dark ground 
for the plant above ground to grow upon,” ex- 
plained the Farmer. 

“Now the interesting thing about a radish is 
this: the plant stores up food in its root for its 
own use. It takes the first half of its life to make 
a great big root, and when the root is fully grown 
and the upper green leaves are through, it dies. 
Then there shoots up a long slender stem, and 
on top of this the flowers of the radish bloom. 
As these in turn fade and die, the seeds form and 
the entire plant dies — its work accomplished. 

“If we dig up a dried radish plant we will find 
the round radish entirely changed in appearance. 
Instead of a juicy red bulb we find a shrivelled 
colorless root, because the stem and flowers that 
finally turned to seed ate up all the nourishment 
the green leaves had given to the radish-root. 


LITTLE MOTHER MAGGIE 


97 

And the stored up food gone, there was nothing 
to draw upon, so the root died, too.” 

“How interesting! Do tell us some more, Mr. 
Jones,” exclaimed Vene Starr. 

“W ell, then, here’s a potato. Is that a fruit, a 
root, a plant, or a bulb?” asked Farmer Jones, 
smiling at his catch-words. 

“It’s a root,” shouted Don. 

“No, it’s a plant — a potato-plant,” said Ruth. 

“I think it’s a bulb — like tulips or other bulbs,” 
added Vene. 

“It’s neither, children — a potato is a stem!” 
said the tickled farmer. 

“A stem— what to?” asked many curious 
voices. 

“Let me tell you : A potato is an underground 
stem with all the properties of a stem but it shoots 
downward instead of up above the soil. 

“You see a potato has many eyes, and these 
eyes grow when properly cut and planted. The 
white shoot pushes itself up out of the ground 
and bears leaves, which is the vine, or plant. 

“The old potato which was planted to furnish 
food for the plant is gradually used up as the 
green leaves open out and grow to be a large 


98 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

healthy vine. Then, the old food-store being 
used, and the potato plant flourishing, new roots 
or stems grow downward from the plant; these 
swell out, and out, and out, until all the little 
tendrils that would be long thin roots in another 
kind of vegetable, are swollen bulb-like tubers of 
the potato plant. 

“When the plant is exhausted and can furnish 
no more life and strength to its underground 
tubers, it dies, and the potatoes stop growing. 

“If a plant above ground kept on indefinitely 
furnishing life and food to the potatoes under- 
ground, they would keep on increasing until one 
hill would supply more than one ever saw. But 
the plant produces just so many tubers and then 
stops.” 

“Oh, that is funny ! I never dreamed a potato 
worked so hard for us,” giggled Dot Starr, as the 
farmer concluded his talk. 

“Is a carrot or turnip a stem or bulb, too?” 
asked Don. 

“No, a carrot, like the radish, is a root and is 
grown from seed. As the seed bursts open, the 
sprout sends up two tiny leaves, while the root 
goes down into the earth to seek food for its 


LITTLE MOTHER MAGGIE 


99 


plant. The root grows fatter and fatter as it 
keeps on feeding the green leaves that in turn 
give the root sunshine and air. In the fall when 
the plant dies, the carrot is ready to be dug out 
and used. 

“If it remains in the ground through the win- 
ter, it freezes but does not die. In spring, it 
sends up a new shoot and this flowers to make 
seeds. The old carrot in the ground dies as its 
seeds are perfected, for it has produced the 
wherewithal for many more plants.” 

“I s’pose the turnip and beet and other swollen 
roots are all the same then,” suggested Ned, who 
had been listening with great interest to Farmer 
Jones’ talk. j 

“Just about, and you can quickly determine 
for yourself which class a vegetable belongs to 
by examining the root or full-grown product. 
A cabbage, kohlrabi, and similar vegetables are 
not roots.” * 

As the children passed other Little Farms, 
they found that some owners had planted dwarf 
and bush peas; dwarf and climbing beans; and 
other vegetables not commonly used by other 
Little Citizens. 


ioo THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

Maggie appeared very eager as they neared 
her small farm, and finally, Vene called out to 
the others : 

“Oh, see that pretty plot. Full of flowers! 
Whose is it?” 

“That's Little Mother Maggie's,” replied the 
farmer, smiling at the wizened little girl. 

“How neat and well-kept,” commended Uncle 
Ben. 

“Yes, Maggie spends all her spare time here 
and takes great pride in the plants. I told her 
the variety to plant to show quick results; but 
now she has a box full of young plants at the 
Nest, where she is starting later flowers for her 
garden when these are gone,” explained Farmer 
Jones. 

As Maggie could do with her garden what she 
pleased, she now went carefully between the rows 
of flowers and gathered all that were full-blown. 
These she presented to Uncle Ben and to the Blue 
Birds. 

“Oh, Maggie, why did you pluck all the lovely 
blossoms?” cried Ruth. 

“Farmer Jones says dey make twice as many 


LITTLE MOTHER MAGGIE 


IOI 


flowers if I keep a-pickin’ dose wide open an* 
ready to fade/' replied Maggie, astutely. 

‘‘For instance, take a pansy plant,” added the 
farmer. “A plant may only produce a few bios- 
soms and these will be very large and beautiful. 
But cut them off as soon as they are fully opened 
and the plant will send up more buds — not quite 
as large. If these are picked too, more buds will 
appear, but will be still smaller, and so on. If 
you want to produce an extraordinarily large and 
beautiful flower on a plant, you pinch off every 
bud that appears excepting the one you wish 
over-fed with the plant’s food. All the strength 
and vitality that would be divided between many 
blossoms now goes to the one and produces an 
extra large and fine single flower.” 

“When I go home I’m going to plant flowers 
and try that idea,” said Vene Starr. 

The Little Citizens were almost finished with 
the inspection of the farms when a signal sounded 
from the fire gong. The visitors looked at each 
other for an explanation. 

“It is the call for evening song,” said Uncle 
Ben. 

“Who started that idea?” asked Ned. 


102 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“Flutey. She said no child should go to bed 
without having its soul lifted to a sense of har- 
mony that would really affect its sleeping hours. 
And we find the singing is really a good thing 
for us all,” explained Uncle Ben. 

The Little Citizens seemed to look forward to 
this song-exercise and soon all were seated in 
the open Refectory, where a small upright piano 
stood. One of the young women who helped 
with the Nests, sat down before the instrument 
and played a gay little air; then the signal 
sounded for silence. 

Miss Selina made it her business to be present 
at these song-times, and generally stood up after 
the prelude and offered a very short, simple 
prayer. Then the Little Citizens sang. 

In the short time they had been at Happy Hills, 
most of them had memorized several sweet songs, 
and could sing really well. Uncle Ben and his 
group sat in the back row the better to get the 
effect of the chorus singing, and when the lovely 
song called “The Prince of Peace” was finished 
he felt that he must wipe his eyes for they were 
moist. 

The Blue Birds and Bobolinks encored this 


LITTLE MOTHER MAGGIE 103 

song with such enthusiasm that Flutey smiled 
and said: "Little Citizens, our visitors appear 
to favor that selection. Suppose we now treat 
them to the new one we have been learning. How 
many think they can sing it in public ?” 

Someone had drawn out a large paper chart 
from back of the piano and now it stood in the 
center of the room. Upon it the visitors saw the 
words of the song plainly written for all to read 
or learn by heart. 

The pianist played the air over once and some 
of the children hummed it eagerly. Then they 
all stood up and sang. 

It was "The Song of Love” and as the child- 
ish voices filled the place and echoed from the 
woods and vale, Uncle Ben felt that this was one 
way to introduce universal peace and brother- 
hood. However could such a motley gathering 
of city waifs, whose parents most likely came 
from every known country in Europe, return 
home feeling the same in mind and soul as before 
spending this summer at Happy Hills ! He knew 
it was impossible, and that every child singing 
there that night must be benefited permanently 


io 4 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


by the words and music of such songs as Miss 
Selina had purposely selected. 

Uncle Ben made another great discovery dur- 
ing that singing, but he made no mention of it 
at the time. He was determined to investigate 
the matter well before taking others into his 
secret. 

Little Mother Maggie, because she had to keep 
her little family quiet and in order during the 
singing, generally sat at the back of the class. 
Uncle Ben sat directly beside her and so made 
his discovery. 

When the Even Song was ended, the children 
trooped to their different Nests to retire for the 
night. Uncle Ben asked the Blue Birds and 
Bobolinks to escort Aunt Selina home while he 
helped Maggie with the little ones. This they 
eagerly agreed to do. So Maggie was delighted 
to have Uncle Ben walk to the Nest with her. 

“Maggie, you seem to have your hands full 
with so many children/' ventured Uncle Ben, 
after they had left the hall. 

“Yes, sir, but dey’ll grow big some day an' den 
I kin help myself." 

“What do you mean — help yourself?" 


LITTLE MOTHER MAGGIE 


105 

“I means, dat den I kin do somethin’ what I 
wants to fer myself,” replied Maggie. 

“Can’t you do it now ?” 

“Dere ain’t no time, when six kids is to be 
looked after — on’y maybe a bit at night when 
dey is all in bed.” 

“What is the something you want to do for 
yourself, Maggie? Maybe I can help you a bit 
now,” offered Uncle Ben, hoping to win the little 
girl’s confidence. 

It was not difficult, as Maggie was frank and 
confiding by nature, so she stopped short in the 
pathway and exclaimed rapturously : 

“Oh Mister Uncle Ben! I loves de flowers 
growin’, I loves pickshers ! I loves pritty people 
like Miss Martin an’ de Blue Birds an’ you ! An’ 
oh ! how I loves singin’ !” 

Uncle Ben had the information he wanted! 
But still he drew her out. 

“Why, Maggie, no one would call Miss Martin 
or me pretty! And some of the Blue Birds and 
Bobolinks are not nearly as good-looking as you 
are, — if you were plump you would be as pretty 
as anyone.” 

“Mister Uncle Ben, you don’t unnerstan’ !” re- 


10 6 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

plied Maggie, with a worried expression. “I 
diden' mean looks, don'che know — I mean some- 
thin' else, but I can't call it like I wantta !" 

“I understand, Maggie; and I know that you 
wish to call it ‘individuality,' or the mental beauty 
of the soul. It is this grace of each one's thought- 
power that makes true beauty and attractive- 
ness." 

“Dat's it — yes, dat's it, Mister Uncle Ben! 
But I diden' know how to say it!" cried Maggie, 
her eyes shining. 

They had reached the Nest by this time, and 
Uncle Ben was so interested, that he said he 
would step in and help put the six romping sis- 
ters and brothers to bed. Maggie was over- 
awed! 

Uncle Ben took quick notice of the cleanliness 
of the Nest, and the crude attempts at decoration. 
Maggie had gathered wild flowers and filled 
empty tin cans with water to hold the lovely 
blossoms. The very arrangement of the colors 
and ferns showed her artistic temperament that 
so pleased the visitor. 

“Why did you remove all the paper from the 
cans, Maggie? Didn't you like the gay colors 


LITTLE MOTHER MAGGIE 


107 


of the printing, and the pictures of tomatoes, and 
corn, and squash on the outside ?” 

“Oh sakes alive ! Dem ain't pickshers ! Dey is 
awful ink ads. what folks have to make to boost 
dere stuff er not sell it !” returned Maggie, scorn- 
fully. 

Uncle Ben laughed aloud. Here was truth 
indeed ! 

“So you thought that flashy tin was better, 
eh?” 

“Not much better, Mister Uncle Ben, but 
cleaner — besides de flowers said dey wouldn't 
stay fresh if dey had to drink water from a tin 
what told everyone it had one time been full of 
beans!” said Maggie, with disgust at the very 
idea! 

Uncle Ben could hardly keep from laughing 
again, but he did not want to offend the little 
girl he was questioning. Now he said: 

“Maybe you'd like something nicer to hold 
flowers?” 

“ 'Tain’t no use wishin' — I hain’t even got any 
green paint to paint dese tin cans wid. If dey 
was green dey would look all right, 'cause you see 
everyt'ing — the grass, the trees, the plants dem- 


108 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

selves, is all green before the flower shoots up 
and opens. An’ a green can would look more 
like leaves for the flowers to stick up from,” ex- 
plained Maggie. 

Uncle Ben now found that his hostess was 
logical and a student of Nature's ways and mo- 
tives. He felt that his visit was teaching him 
more about Maggie than he ever thought to 
know. 

The six little ones were in bed by this time, 
and Maggie kept glancing at the electric light 
which hung from the center of the sloping roof 
of the Nest. 

“What's wrong with it, Maggie?” asked Uncle 
Ben. 

“It'll go out at nine sharp an' leave you in the 
dark,” said she. 

“Oh — then you want to go to bed?” 

“No, I don' go to bed when dere's a full moon 
like dis one. I coulden' sleep away such a lovely 
time ! I likes to sit on de steps and think !” 

“And think? Don't you sing to the moon, 
Maggie ?” 

“Who tol' you?” quickly countered the little 
girl. 


LITTLE MOTHER MAGGIE 


109 


“No one told me, but the moon ought to make 
you feel like singing, I think/' returned Uncle 
Ben, soothingly. 

“I sings soft-like so no one kin hear. It might 
wake up de children an' make 'em cry, so I jus' 
sing inside, you know!" 

“So I thought. Well now, Maggie, I have a 
favor to ask. Suppose we ask Miss Martin in the 
next Nest to keep her eye on the sleeping children 
here, while you and I walk over to the lake and 
watch the moon sail over the trees. There you 
can sing to me without disturbing anyone, you 
see." 

Maggie looked at Uncle Ben and grasping his 
arm, said : 

“I'll do ennyt'ing for you, but you’ll wish you 
never ast me to sing!" 

Miss Martin quickly consented to keep guard 
over Maggie's brood as well as the little ones in 
her own Nest; and Uncle Ben shared his secret 
with her, while Maggie sought for a hat and an 
old pair of cotton gloves — for was she not going 
for a walk with a real gentleman ! Ladies always 
wore gloves at such times. 

Uncle Ben took Maggie's hand to make her feel 


no THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


quite at ease with him, and soon the two reached 
the Summer House built on the little bluff over- 
looking the ornamental lake where Aunt Selina 
first heard Ruth plan for Happy Hills. 

All was quiet and peaceful and the faint lap, 
lap, lap of the water as it was lightly rippled 
by the night-breezes, gave one a feeling of being 
in another world. So thought Maggie. 

She forgot where she was and who was with 
her as her soul drank in the beauty of the scene, 
and when Uncle Ben whispered, “Sing 'The Song 
of Love/ Maggie,” she sang it softly as if in 
accord with her own wishes at the moment. 

The melody came forth so pure and clear and 
free, yet controlled, that Uncle Ben marvelled. 
He had found a wonder indeed! 

Maggie softly trilled every song she had 
learned at Happy Hills, and then her silent com- 
panion took her hand and they walked back to 
the Nest. 

“Diden’ you like my singing Mister Uncle 
Ben?” queried Maggie, wistfully, for he had not 
said a word. 

"Maggie, it was so wonderful that I can’t 
speak!” 


LITTLE MOTHER MAGGIE 


1 1 1 


“I know ! I know, how you'se feel ! I always 
feels dat way when I stan' outside a church an’ 
hears some angel singin' inside. Den I want glad 
rags an’ fine ways so I kin go in an' see de shinin' 
wings an' face what's singin' !" cried Maggie. 

“Thank you very much for this treat, Maggie, 
and tomorrow I will treat you in return," said 
Uncle Ben, patting her head. 

“Now hurry to bed, little girl. Good-night!" 
added the visitor, as Maggie stood on the top step 
of the three that led to the Nest. 


CHAPTER VII 


UNEXPECTED GENIUSES POUND AT HAPPY HIELS 

Uncle Ben sat up with Flutey a long time that 
night, after he entered the house, and when the 
two parted to go to bed, it had been decided to 
experiment as Uncle Ben planned. 

The following morning the Blue Birds and 
Bobolinks heard Uncle Ben telephoning long- 
distance to New York. Having secured the num- 
ber he wanted, he talked for a long time over the 
wire. 

“Whew ! That call will cost Uncle Ben a lot 
of money,” ventured Don, who was curious to 
know what it was all about. 

“It will be money well invested if the returns 
are such as we look for,” returned Flutey, smiling 
but not offering to inform anyone of the cause. 

“Well, Aunt Selina, it’s arranged ! She's com- 
ing down with Richards this afternoon. I'm so 
glad I could reach her,” said Uncle Ben, entering 
the breakfast room. 


IT* 


UNEXPECTED GENIUSES FOUND 113 

“And Mr. Richards said he would bring down 
that music teacher who used to direct the band,” 
added Miss Selina. 

“We'll have quite an opera company as well 
as an orchestra at Happy Hills,” laughed Uncle 
Ben, highly pleased at something. 

“I guess I’ll stay at Happy Hills the rest of 
the Summer, Uncle Ben, and help play the drum,” 
now ventured Don. 

“Pooh ! A lot you’d play ! You’d only beat it !” 
exclaimed Dot, for she knew there would be no 
place for her in the band. 

“He’ll beat it from here, all right, when we 
go home again,” laughed Jinks. 

“As soon as I finish my breakfast, I’m going 
over to the camp and make a tour of each Nest. 
I have important information to secure before 
noon. What do you boys and girls propose 
doing?” now asked Uncle Ben. 

“Can’t we go with you?” 

“You can go to the camp but not with me on 
my tour of inspection. You must amuse your- 
selves this morning.” 

“All right! We’ll go and help the Street 
Cleaning Department,” offered Don. 


1 1 4 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“And we girls can watch the Health Board 
work. I think it must be great fun to see those 
girls teach the younger ones how to clean their 
teeth and chew their food !” giggled Ruth. 

Immediately after the morning meal had ended, 
Miss Selina ordered Jackson to bring her wheel- 
chair out and she sat in it, ready to start. 

Flutey was no longer troubled with rheuma- 
tism, so it was not that she had to use the chair, 
but Happy Hills was at least a half mile from the 
house so that a walk there and back, besides 
the walking about the camp, or going in and out 
of the Nests, was too fatiguing for a lady long 
past seventy years. 

“We'll push the chair, Jackson, as we want 
to be with Aunt Selina,” said Ruth, as the man- 
servant waited. 

“All right, Jackson. You may attend to other 
duties,” added Flutey, smiling. 

Uncle Ben had gone, carrying his important 
secret with him, but once the Blue Birds and 
Bobolinks were on their way to camp, they forgot 
about his desertion of them. 

Uncle Ben reached Miss Martin's Nest and 
engaged her in conversation over his secret. She 


UNEXPECTED GENIUSES FOUND 115 

was as eager as he, and soon they had decided 
upon what was best to do. 

“Maggie, I am going to have a little talk with 
you, to tell you how much I liked your singing 
last night,” said Uncle Ben, walking up the steps 
of Maggie’s Nest. 

The little girl was sweeping up the floor of the 
Nest as her visitor spoke, and quickly looking 
up, she smiled at him. 

“I’ve decided to find someone to take the care 
of the children entirely from your hands during 
the day, Maggie, and Miss Martin says she can 
easily manage them as well as those she now 
has charge of.” 

“What fur?” wondered Maggie. 

“To give you plenty of time to sing.” 

“Sing! Me — sing all day?” cried Maggie, 

amazed. 

“Sing when you like and as often, but at cer- 
tain times of each day you must sing and practice 
just the way the teacher wants you to.” 

“What teacher — have we a singin’ teacher 
here ?” gasped Maggie. 

“We intend having one, and she is coming 
down today to start those pupils who really have 


ii 6 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


good voices. I think you have a good voice but 
she can judge better than I. If she says you can 
sing, will you promise to practice ?” 

“Oh, Mister Uncle Ben , — will I?” came from 
Maggie in a trembling whisper. 

“Den maybe I kin sing like dose angels in Fift 
Avenoo churches, hey?” added Maggie after a 
moment's thought. 

“Just like them, I hope — may be sweeter than 
they sing!” 

“Oh no, Mister Uncle Ben! Never could a 
poor kid like me sing better'n 'em !" 

“But you wouldn't be poor if you had a fine 
voice,” ventured Uncle Ben, carefully watching 
his protege. 

Maggie's eyes opened wider and wider as this 
astounding statement dawned upon her mind, and 
finally she dropped upon the floor beside the 
broom. 

“Dat's so — I coul’ buy de children all dey need 
an' git some nice clo’es fer myself wid what was 
left!” sighed she, the tears of joy coming to her 
eyes. 

Uncle Ben now felt sure he had read the girl 
aright. Her first thought had been of the little 


UNEXPECTED GENIUSES FOUND 117 

sisters and brothers who had never had what was 
necessary — she came last — if anything was left ! 

“Well, Maggie, Fm going to give you a new 
name for the singing teacher to use. You must 
always be 'Margaret' henceforth, and see to it, 
that everyone is corrected should they call you 
'Maggie.' Tell them it was my order that you be 
called 'Margaret.' " 

''Oh, you'se sure kin read my wishes, Mister 
Uncle Ben ! How I always hated that 'Maggie' 
widdout any soft music in its sayin'l But Mar- 
garet is differunt ! It's low and smooth !" 

Even in this degree was the girl's sense of har- 
mony so finely attuned that she rebelled at hear- 
ing herself called by an inharmonious sound. 

The teacher arrived with Mr. Richards and 
the music master on the one o'clock train, and the 
car soon carried them to Miss Selina's country 
estate. A group of merry children met them on 
the steps of the veranda, and after a noisy time 
at luncheon, all started for the camp. 

Uncle Ben had gone over the camp-ground 
that morning and made a list of names of those 
Little Citizens who showed any desire for music 
— to join the band or chorus at Happy Hills. 


1 1 8 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


Mr. Richards had personally attended to the 
order of securing instruments made especially 
for half-grown young folks, and these bulky 
boxes had been shipped by special delivery to the 
train at the Pennsylvania railroad station that 
morning. They arrived at Happy Hills on the 
same train with the teachers. 

Great was the confusion that afternoon as 
many of the Little Citizens tried to blow a cor- 
net, bass horn or beat a drum. And such a 
squeaking and squealing as issued from many 
throats when the singing was tried out by the 
teacher ! 

Margaret had insisted all that morning on be- 
ing called Margaret instead of Maggie, and her 
head was held up an inch higher with the sense 
of her promotion to a harmonious name. 

She had allowed other girls and boys to pre- 
cede her in the testing of their voices, and now 
she came last. Uncle Ben waited anxiously for 
this moment, and when she stood up beside the 
piano and did as the others had done, singing 
“Ah, eh, oh, ooh” for the teacher, he listened 
carefully. 

“Now sing this: and close your eyes to keep 


UNEXPECTED GENIUSES FOUND 1 19 

out all sight of things outside your mental vision 
of song,” advised the teacher, as she sang the 
queer sounds she wished the little girl to try. 

Margaret did them, and the lady had her try 
others, until the girl laughed : “I kin sing songs 
better’n ’em funny noises!” 

“Can you? Well then let me hear you sing 
'The Song of Love’ that I see printed on that 
chart,” replied the teacher. 

Margaret sang it with her natural childish 
voice and in spite of having never had any idea 
of music other than that which inspired her 
soul, the true placing of her voice and the volume 
in the tones so pleased the teacher and music 
master that both exclaimed: 

“Mr. Talmage, I am sure we have a wonder 
here! If she will show the same ambition to 
learn properly as she does to sing naturally, we 
will be amply rewarded.” 

The training of Margaret began that summer, 
and so careful was the teacher because of the 
girl’s youth and refined mentality, that the course 
seemed to include everything except singing les- 
sons. 

Margaret was taught to walk and stand prop- 


120 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


erly, and when seated or lying down, to keep her 
body from sagging. She was given breathing 
exercises daily, and taught to masticate her food 
thoroughly. She was shown how to speak with 
a sweet, low voice, and to enunciate her vowels 
carefully, always listening for a harsh note or 
discordant sound in her speech. 

Easy, simple songs were permitted the girl, 
but the majority of her exercises were “Ohs and 
Ahs,” until she felt that singing was not quite 
so easy to master as she had thought. But she 
persevered, and when her growth was attained 
and her voice matured with the years, Margaret 
became one of the most sought-after of all so- 
prano church soloists! 

Other voices were found at Happy Hills, but 
none so marvelous as Little Mother Maggie’s. 
A strong tenor developed from a boy’s high 
singing voice; and a contralto emerged from a 
Russian peasant child’s low-pitched voice. Both 
became well-known public soloists and some 
others who were trained that summer found suc- 
cess in chorus and choir work, later in life. 

The band was the greatest source of attrac- 
tion for the boys, however. The music master 


UNEXPECTED GENIUSES FOUND 121 


began instructions with ten pupils, each of whom, 
having had some teaching at school, could read 
notes. At first, the blare of instruments sound- 
ing from those young, hearty lungs, caused the 
audience to muffle their ears. As Uncle Ben re- 
marked : 

“Seems to me, a barnyard is on a strike !” 

Everyone laughed and the master said: “Once 
more, now boys; and show Mr. Talmage how 
hens cackle, roosters crow, cows moo-oo, don- 
keys bray, and horses neigh — all together !” 

And the blast that resulted made Uncle Ben 
run away! 

But harmony came from this chaos as the 
boys practiced faithfully day after day, and be- 
fore the band leader returned to New York he 
felt encouraged to keep up the class through the 
winter months. Uncle Ben hired an assembly 
room on the East Side and other boys joined 
the band, each one eager enough to buy his own 
instrument. Before the following spring, a band 
of forty boys could play quite well ! 

So much for the musical talent at Happy 
Hills! 

A few days following the advent of the music 


122 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


teachers, Miss Martin called Uncle Ben's atten- 
tion to little Nelly Finn. 

“Have you seen the child use pencil and pa- 
per?" asked Miss Martin. 

“No. But don't tell me we have a born artist 
among us," laughed Uncle Ben. 

“Really, Mr. Talmage, I think we have a de- 
signer with unusual talent," replied Miss Martin, 
anxiously. 

“Designer! Why the child has never been 
outside of a dirty tenement room. Being crip- 
pled, you know, she could not run about as other 
children do. Where could she see anything to 
inspire her brain to design?" 

“Wasn't Beethoven stone deaf? And didn't 
he compose the sweetest music and most perfect 
symphonies without ever having heard the sound 
of them — other than in his own thoughts ! That, 
as well as other wonders, proves that it is not 
from without that we find inspiration and true 
talent. It is solely from within, and one whose 
mind is seeking for the beautiful and eternal will 
find it there, whether it be music, verse, form, or 
color," said Miss Martin. 

“You're a philosopher, Miss Martin, and a 


UNEXPECTED GENIUSES FOUND 123 

true one, at that,” said Uncle Ben, highly pleased 
at his companion’s reply to his doubts. 

“So you see, Mr. Talmage, Nelly Finn may be 
a great designer in mind, and the fact that she 
does not lose her artistic ideas of what she sees 
and feels in her thoughts, by coarse contact with 
the outside world, leaves her original and ex- 
pressive.” 

“Well, show me some of the sketches you seem 
to think are so marvelous,” said Uncle Ben. 

As is generally the case, those who come to 
laugh go away to wonder, and it was so with 
Uncle Ben. The moment he saw the lead-pencil 
lines crudely drawn on yellow manila wrapping 
paper, he detected the talent displayed. He took 
several of these samples with him to show Mr. 
Richards. 

“What do you think of this work, Richards ?” 

“Where did you get them?” asked the news- 
paper man instantly interested. 

“Oh, one of our Little Citizens is an expert 
artist, I find,” laughed Uncle Ben. 

“Why, Talmage, this is quite clever ! Do you 
know, we must change the name of our campers? 
They are not Little Citizens. They are Little 


124 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

Wonders! Now tell me truly, where did you get 
these sketches ?” 

“One of Miss Martin’s Nestlings, Richards. 
No less than puny Nelly Finn,” replied Uncle 
Ben. 

“What! The sister of Micky, our newsboy 
and boot-black?” cried the astonished newspaper 
man. 

“The same.” 

“I can see myself resigning from, the paper, 
Talmage, and giving all my attention to discov- 
ering talent at Happy Hills. Then to find teach- 
ers for such talent that it may bloom in full 
beauty,” laughed Mr. Richards, but he was feel- 
ing quite serious over Nelly’s development. 

“We won’t hide these talents ‘in a napkin’ 
whatever else we have to do,” added Uncle Ben. 

“But Nelly must just play and grow strong 
this summer, then we will enter her in some 
class where she will be given all the help she 
needs without ruining her original ideas. Who 
knows, Ben, but she may rule the world of fash- 
ion with her designs?” 

“No one would dare prophesy such a thing 


UNEXPECTED GENIUSES FOUND 125 

to look at the wisp of a child now,” added Uncle 
Ben. 

Nothing was said to Nelly about her gift, for 
they all agreed it might create other ideas in her 
mind than those she loved to draw upon paper. 
But it had been decided that she would be given 
a good home and a teacher to train her childish 
ideals to conform with her talent. 

“If we keep on digging up any more geniuses 
at Happy Hills, Flutey, you will have to close 
your house this winter and take a big place in 
New York just to prepare a home for your Little 
Wonders,” teased Mr. Richards, that night after 
he had told about Nelly’s talent. 

“Not such a bad idea, at that!” added Uncle 
Ben. 

“Good gracious, Ben! You don’t mean it — 
really!” cried Miss Selina, aghast. 

“Why not! Richards and I are homeless city 
waifs, as well as the Little Citizens, so we could 
live with you and help keep house,” replied Uncle 
Ben. 

“Ben, think of my age ! And New York, too !” 

“Why should I think of your age now, when 
you have proven without a doubt that you are 


126 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


only fifty-five or sixty in reality! Years count 
for nothing when one is as spry as you are,” 
laughed Mr. Talmage. 

“Why Ben Talmage! How you talk! Only 
last year I was all tied in knots with rheumatism 
and couldm’t walk!” cried Flutey. 

“Oh Flutey, stop trying to make believe you 
want to be back where I found you !” exclaimed 
Ruth, indignantly. 

The other Blue Birds laugLed teas*ingly at 
Miss Selina, and she smiled too. “Yes, I sup- 
pose the surest way to charm back that rheumatic 
state is to think of it!” said she. 

“Well, it’s just the same with old age! If you 
keep talking and thinking of it, pretty soon you 
are old and helpless ! And we know you’re not 
— so there !” declared Ruth. 

“Didn’t you trot everywhere with the Blue 
Birds and Bobolinks while you were at Mossy 
Glen?” demanded Ned, her grand-nephew. 

“Yes, but I was visiting and had nothing else 
to do!” 

“Oh, is that it! Well, I’ll tell you what, Flu- 
tey ! I’ll rent the big house and ask you to visit 
me all winter. Then you can run about and 


UNEXPECTED GENIUSES FOUND 127 

enjoy the Little Wonders we found at Happy 
Hills without thinking of your age. If it is your 
own home that makes you so aged, we will never 
allow you to return here !” said Uncle Ben. 

“You’re all talking a lot of poppy-cock stuff! 
Flutey has been livelier here at Happy Hills than 
I ever saw her before,” said Dot Starr, who 
must have a word in everything. 

“Sure! Doesn’t she visit the camp twice a 
day, and go up and down all the steps to the 
Nests, to say nothing of going about the Little 
Farms, and hospital and Refectory. If she can 
stand that, she can stand a little of New York,” 
said Don, who felt a great attraction in this sud- 
den idea of a New York Home for Little Won- 
ders! 

“Well, we have all summer to plan such an 
outlandish thing as Uncle Ben just sprang on 
us, so we will think it over,” said Mr. Richards, 
who did not think it wise to urge matters fur- 
ther. 

“What are we going to do tomorrow, Uncle 
Ben?” now asked Ned. 

“Farmer Jones said he would show us what 
he does with all the wastage from camp that the 


128 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


Street Cleaning Department wheels to the dump 
each day,” said Jinks. 

'‘That won’t take all morning — only an hour,” 
added Ned. 

“And after that — what do you want to do?” 
said Uncle Ben. 

“I say, let’s give the Little Citizens a picnic. 
We can all go in installments in the autos to some 
other woods or lake and have something to eat, 
then play games and come back,” suggested Don. 

“Oh yes, give Don a ride and something good 
to eat and he is happy!” jeered Meredith. 

“I don’t think Don’s idea is so bad, Mete, 
especially as we can use some of the large farm 
wagons filled with straw for the older children. 
They have not seen any part of the neighbor- 
hood as yet, and they ought to have an outing. 
We can finish all chores at camp and see that the 
little farms are all right for the day, and then 
leave Happy Hills about eleven; have a picnic 
luncheon somewhere and return about five,” said 
Uncle Ben. 

“Where could we go?” asked several of the 
Blue Birds and Bobolinks. 

“There is a beautiful lake nestling among the 


UNEXPECTED GENIUSES FOUND 129 

hills not ten miles from here,” suggested Aunt 
Selina. “It is used by anyone giving a picnic, 
and is considered free to the public, although the 
vast extent of woods is owned by a Philadelphia 
man.” 

“If it is commonly used by the public, it will 
be just the spot. No harm will be done by going 
there,” said Mr. Richards. 

“If we are going on a picnic tomorrow, we 
must plan all sorts of goodies to eat,” ventured 
Don, anxiously. 

“Why not take what we might have at the 
Refectory — cook it in the woods, that’s all the 
difference,” said Uncle Ben. 

“What’s a picnic without cake and ice-cream !’ 
scorned Dot. 

“I’ll see that the ice-cream gets there safely 
if Don and Dot will turn the freezers,” laughed 
Ned. 

“We have a great freezer at the camp which is 
turned by electric power, so that need not worry 
you longer, Don,” said Flutey consolingly. 

So it was decided to have a picnic the follow- 
ing day, and Miss Martin was telephoned at once 


i 3 o THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

to ask the cook and other help if they could pre- 
pare the necessities for the picnic dinner in time. 

This was satisfactorily arranged, and everyone 
went to bed betimes so that they might rise at an 
early hour and help in various ways to enable 
all to get away on time for the outing. 


CHAPTER VIII 


the: street craning squad 

It took little time for the news to spread 
around the camp that a picnic was planned for 
that day, and many a Little Citizen forgot newly 
acquired table manners, in the eagerness to talk 
it over. 

Breakfast out of the way, the cook and her 
helpers went to work to freeze cream, bake 
cookies, and prepare other delicious goodies for 
the treat The Little Mothers hurried to their 
Nests to attend to their several duties. 

The Health Board went its round conscien- 
tiously to see that all beds were aired, all dust 
swept and wiped up carefully, all clothing dry 
and clean, and above all, that everyone brushed 
and cleaned their teeth properly. 

The Blue Birds were present at these visits 
and enjoyed watching the older girls of the camp 
take charge of things and order the children 
around. 


132 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

One of the Health Officers named Marybell 
was a red-haired, freckled girl of twelve. She 
was a born captain and now found her oppor- 
tunity in life. 

“Say you, Rebecca Einstein, who tol’ you’se to 
sweep that dust under de crex rug?” said Mary- 
bell upon reaching the Nest where Rebecca had 
the sweeping to do that day. 

“Dere ain’t no dus’ pan,” complained Rebecca. 

“Wall, you’se know where t’ git one, den! 
Go ’an git it!” ordered Marybell, pointing a de- 
termined finger towards the kitchens. 

Rebecca ran, glad to be away from the dis- 
concerting gaze of the Blue Birds. 

“Now you Eliza — come here and show the 
ladies your teet’ an’ finger-nails,” said Marybell, 
selecting the girl she had the most trouble with 
on those very scores. 

“I ain’t all done wid dem yet, lemme run 

an’ finish,” said Eliza, hurriedly, but blushing at 
being caught so unexpectedly. 

“Ain’ done ! Laws me, sloven, yeh had more’n 
an hour since breakfast t’ do yer toilet!” ex- 
claimed Marybell, frowning. 


THE STREET CLEANING SQUAD 133 

“She gits out of doin’ ’em all the time,” will- 
ingly tattled another girl. 

“Come right here, Emmy, an’ lemme see yer 
own nails!” said Marybell, while the other little 
girls in the Nest tittered. 

When Emmy slowly shuffled up and held 
out her fingers, Marybell expressed disgust at the 
sight. “A black mark fer you’se, an’ one fer 
Eliza! Yeh can’t be depended upon. Mebbe yeh 
better stay away from de picnic an’ tend to yer 
teet’ an’ nails !” 

“Oh no, no ! Please not dat, Marybell ! Give 
us all black marks, if yeh wants to, but let us go 
today!” cried the two delinquents. 

“Well den, git a hustle on an’ clean up before 
I git back,” said she, shaking a warning head 
at them and going her way to the next Nest. 

This inspection continued, the Blue Birds en- 
joying every phase of it, until they arrived at 
one of the newest Nests — that is the tenants had 
just come from the city. Marybell had been 
asked to look after them until a regular Health 
Member was selected for that district of the 
camp. 

As the visitors came near the Nest they saw 


i 3 4 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

a little girl with skirts pinned up about her waist, 
standing bare-legged in the creek, which was up 
to her knees. She was bending over and doing 
something energetically, but her back being 
turned to the Health Officer and the Blue Birds, 
they could not see what it was that so occupied 
her time and attention. 

“What's (kjftral's name — out in de brook?" 
Marybell as^pme of the six Little Citizens of 
the Nest. 

“She's Annie Markey," said several voices 
obligingly. 

“What's she standin' in de crick fer?" 

“She's scrubbin' her teet' like we wuz tol' to 
do." 

“Scrubbin' her teet' in all dat water! How 
long's she been at it?" wondered Marybell. 

“Ever since we came back from breakfus', cuz 
she says she was tol' all dat grey had to come 
offen her front teet', an’ she can't rub it off," 
explained the oldest of the group. 

Marybell hurried down to the creek and called : 
“Annie — hoh, Annie Markey, come out here !" 

Annie turned and saw the Officer beckoning 
her. She came up on the bank, and Marybell saw 


THE STREET CLEANING SQUAD 135 

she held a bit of broken mirror in one hand and 
the brand new toothbrush in the other. 

"Open yer mout'," said Marybell. 

Annie obeyed — it opened widely. 

"Back teet' all gone — nuttin' but holes left 
dere! Now skin yer teet’ — like dis!" And Mary- 
bell showed two rows of sharp front teeth as she 
wrinkled up her face fearsomely. 

Annie imitated the Officer and Marybell 
frowned. "You'se ain't got no kinda teet' to 
clean, nohow! Dey gotta go to a dentis' an' be 
scoured er pulled — I don' know which, but I'll 
report you to de hospital anyway and let 'em 
do what dey says," was Marybell's terrifying 
verdict. 

"Oh please don' report me to a hospital — 
please ! An' I don' want all my teet' pulled nei- 
der! Til run away firs'. I come here to eat all 
I kin and have a good time, an' now yeh wants 
to pull out my teet an' I can't chew any more!" 
wailed Annie. 

"Nah, I don’t, Annie! I on'y wants to git out 
dem bad ones what will ache, an' de udders kin 
be scoured to git de black off. What made 'em 
so bad?" soothed Marybell. 


136 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“De school-teacher in Harlem says it was 
’cause I eat so much candy — me fadder keeps a 
candy store wid cigars, yeh see.” 

“Hum — we unnerstan’ — nuttin’ like trashy 
candy to eat up good teet’ !” declared Marybell, 
wisely, for she had just been told a few lessons 
prior to this application, about the evil effects of 
sweets on the teeth of children. 

In the last Nest in the row, Marybell found 
that a roof had leaked during a slight shower the 
preceding night. The bed-clothes of the bed 
standing under the stream of rain-water were 
soaked, but so eager was the child to finish its 
work and get away that the damp sheets were 
used in making up the bed. 

“Say — you chumps, who made dis bed?” 
shouted Marybell, as the six Little Citizens ran 
up to await inspection. 

“Franzy Bedell — it’s her bed!” cried five 
voices in unison. 

“Franzy — pull off dem beddings!” ordered the 
Officer. 

Franzy slowly removed the covers and exposed 
a large damp place at the foot of the mattress. 

“Diden’ yeh know any better! Why, even in 


THE STREET CLEANING SQUAD 137 

Rivington er Ludlow Streets, de mudders know 
better ’n use soaked beddin’. Ye git a black mark 
fer dat !” exclaimed the captain of the squad. 

Franzy said nothing but awaited further pun- 
ishment. 

“Now spread each artick’l out on somethin’ 
to dry an’ don’t yeh dare make dat bed till dey 
is good an’ dry — you hear?” 

“Yes’sm!” quickly said Franzy, glad to get 
off so easy. 

“I’m cornin’ back, remember, so don’t yeh 
cheat again!” And with that threat, Marybell 
led the Blue Birds away. 

On the way back to the Infirmary where 
Marybell had to hand in her reports, she said: 
“Sometimes dem ninnies jus’ pull de bed-covers 
up an’ smooth ’em out, tryin’ to fool me to think- 
in’ dey was all aired and made fresh, but I kin 
tell! Yep, I kin tell every time!” 

“What else do you have to watch, Marybell ?” 
asked Ruth, who was highly interested. 

“Oh, some of de kids wear clo’es what is 
dirty or damp from the brook, an’ I has to make 
’em change er report ’em. Lots of dese East 
Siders can’t see good, an’ lots got somethin’ 


138 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

wrong wid dere noses an' t’roats. I has to watch 
ef dey breat’ hard. Den I tells de nurse at de 
infirmary an’ she makes tests.” 

“I guess there’ll be a lot of better children go- 
ing back home after this summer,” mused Vene, 
seriously. 

“Yes, and it’s too bad the city can’t let girls 
like Marybell take charge of certain school de- 
partments just as she is doing here at camp,” 
said Ruth. 

Marybell now reported to the superior at the 
Infirmary, and the Blue Birds waited outside for 
her reappearance. Meantime, the Bobolinks 
were entertained by the Captain of the Street 
Cleaning Squad. 

“We begin on Primrose Lane — dat runs down 
de middle of de camp-ground. One Member goes 
down Violet Lane while anudder goes down Daf- 
fodil Lane. Each member of the Squad has his 
own streets to take care of — dere all called by 
flower lanes and paths, but we fellers call ’em 
streets like dey do in Noo York, yeh know!” 

While the Squad was collecting the rubbish 
that was placed outside each Nest in the morn- 
ing, the Captain showed the boys how they 


THE STREET CLEANING SQUAD 139 

worked for promotion. A Captain held his office 
two weeks and at the expiration of his term, if 
he was worthy, he was given a medal for service. 
Any boy holding a medal would be allowed to 
come to camp the following year. Every boy 
in the Squad was eager to be Captain of course, 
but such an office was voted upon and decided 
by the deportment of the applicant, during his 
stay in camp. 

“Now come over to Farmer Jones’ dump heap 
and I will show you what he does with trash and 
debris,” said the Captain. 

As the Bobolinks neared the extreme corner 
of the estate far removed from camp and house, 
they noticed a disagreeable odor. 

“Ha, ha! You smell our pigs!” laughed the 
Captain. 

“Pigs ! Whose pigs ?” chorused the Bobolinks. 

“Little Citizens’ pigs! We are raisin’ a hull 
litter of ’em on de leavin’s of de table. I’ll show 
you.” 

The Bobolinks were soon watching the fat 
little porkers who had so much clean food to eat. 
All the garbage from the kitchens was carefully 
sorted by a few of the Squad each day, and the 


i 4 o THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

peelings or bits of raw fruit and vegetables were 
thrown into a great kettle near the sty. This 
was boiled into mush and fed to the pigs. All 
bread, meat and other refuse from table or 
kitchen, was mixed well and given to the pigs 
at noon. The mushy food was fed in the morn- 
ing and at night. The sty was kept as clean 
as possible, and the pigs were scrubbed every 
day to keep them clean and healthy. 

“Goodness me! Who scrubs them? ,, laughed 
Ned. 

“Oh, we draw lots for that work. Every feller 
in the Squad wants to do it, but we take turns,” 
replied the Captain. 

Then he showed the Bobolinks the other refuse 
heap. The papers were all picked out and kept 
in bags to sell. All rags were also collected for 
sale. Tin cans and other metals were picked out 
and thrown in a bin for sale also. The money 
thus earned was to be used for an outing or for 
some form of general good for the Little 
Citizens — such as a victrola, or game, or other 
pleasure. 

The Bobolinks followed their host back to the 
camp and found the Squad had completed their 


THE STREET CLEANING SQUAD 14 1 


rounds and were rolling the little basket-wagons 
to the dump. So they said good-by to the cap- 
tain and ran away to join the Blue Birds who 
were coming from the Infirmary. 

“Say, Uncle Ben has this plan worked down 
to a fine system, hasn't he?" said Ned, approv- 
ingly. 

“Of course he has. I’d like to own one of 
those pigs myself, and try for a county-fair 
prize," said Jinks. 

“It's a wonder he hasn’t thought of keeping 
bee-hives for Little Citizens, or mushroom cel- 
lars, and a lot of other things," laughed Mere- 
dith. 

“Now say, Mete, that bee idea isn’t so bad. 
Let’s suggest it. Lots of these boys would be 
glad to try it out, I should think." 

“I’ll mention it when we get home tonight," 
said Meredith. 

“There’s one thing they’ve overlooked thus 
far, boys," said Jinks. 

“Yes — what?" queried the others. 

“Some scheme to get rid of these mosquitoes 
and flies! That always takes the fun out of 
camping, I think," replied Jinks. 


142 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“Maybe they have something planned, but it 
ought to work. That’s another item we’ll ask him 
about tonight,” said Ned. 

It happened that night, after everyone was 
seated on the piazza of Miss Selina’s house, that 
the topics were mentioned and Uncle Ben had to 
admit that he had not yet taken care of ridding 
the camp of flies and mosquitoes. 

“I’ll tell you what, boys! I wish you’d take 
charge of those two important matters and I’ll 
attend to the bee idea. I believe the care of bees 
will help the boys at camp a lot, and give them 
honey as well as pastime.” 

“We’ll do the fly and mosquito business, all 
right, Uncle Ben, but we must have crude oil 
to sprinkle over the marshy or pool spots in the 
woods,” said Ned. 

“Easy enough to secure oil, and whatever else 
you may need for the pests,” agreed Uncle Ben. 

So the Bobolinks found an important work to 
do while they visited at Happy Hills, and not 
only were the Little Citizens more comfortable 
thereafter, but they found out how to keep free 
of flies and malarial mosquitoes. 


CHAPTER IX 


TH£ KITTLE CITIZENS' PICNIC 

As the time drew near for the large farm- 
wagons to arrive at the camp to convey the Little 
Citizens to the picnic ground, many eyes kept 
turning in the direction of the farm-yard, and 
every few moments one could hear a whisper of : 
“When will they come, do you think ?” 

Finally, however, a rumbling was heard and a 
great shout went up: “Here they come! Is 
everybody ready ?” 

“Hurrah \” “Hurry up, everyone !” and other 
calls made the camp sound like Bedlam for a 
time. The cook had ordered her assistants to 
pack the large baskets with all sorts of goodies, 
and these most valuable items of luggage were 
safely placed under the high seats of the farm- 
wagons. 

While the men were superintending this work, 

some of the boys clambered up on the front seat 
143 


i 4 4 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

and sat beside the drivers — quite a post of honor, 
too, to sit there ! The other Little Citizens piled 
in wherever a seat could be found, and soon the 
merry, noisy crowd was ready to start. 

Meantime the two touring cars had gone on 
to find the place and see that all was ready for 
the reception of the others. 

On the way, the Mother's Helpers and “First 
Aides" had much to do to keep order and peace 
in the crowded wagons of happy children. 
Finally the lake was seen and a loud clamoring 
came from throats eager to have a rough-and- 
tumble frolic once more — such as was common 
in the city. 

The Police and Firemen forgot their duties in 
the general scramble for the boats, of which 
there were three. 

“Citizens ! Don't anyone get into the boats — I 
find they are not water-proof!" shouted Uncle 
Ben through his hand-megaphone. 

“Oh gee! What's the fun of cornin' here if 
we can't sail?" grumbled one of the Street Clean- 
ing Department. 

“Say, Muller, don't you give de Boss any sass, 
now, er I'll lock yeh up fer de day!" threatened 


THE LITTLE CITIZENS’ PICNIC 145 

a Policeman, roused to an abnormal sense of 
duty. 

“Who’s givin’ him sass! Can’t a feller ask 
a question widdout de police buttin’ in?” com- 
plained Jakey Muller. 

“Dass all right! Jest don’t say nawthin’, see!” 
returned the Policeman, as he hurried away to 
watch a baseball drawing for pitcher and batter 
in the forthcoming game. 

“Humph! Think ye’re smart ’cause yuh got 
on a blue uniform. Ef I wants to sail de boat, 
I does, so there!” mumbled Jakey to himself, as 
he watched the Policeman disappear. 

“Heigh, Jakey — come on over and see the 
fun !” now called a friend a short distance away. 

The discontented boy turned and saw some 
friends waiting for the farm-hands to finish put- 
ting up some fine swings, but such a tame form 
of sport failed to attract the Little Citizen, who 
had determined to ride in a boat or do nothing 
at all. 

Soon after this a score or more of children 
were having lots of fun swinging and being the 
motive-power back of the swings, for “pushing” 
the others so high that they would scream in 


1 46 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


dread of falling was more delight than being in 
the swing screaming ! 

A group of Little Citizens were paddling in 
the edge of the pond, watched over by Little 
Mothers and a few grown-ups. A group went 
exploring up the hillside, feeling sure that a 
bear’s cave, or perhaps, the secret home of the 
Wood Nymphs would be found on the expe- 
dition. 

Uncle Ben and some of his helpers were 
clearing away the brush and stones that were 
in the way of a smooth eating-spot. The grass 
must be clean and level, for dinner to be safely 
served there. The boys were wildly applauding 
a “home-run” and some of the riders in the 
swings were “letting the old cat die,” when 
Jakey stepped into a boat just to sit down and 
rock it for fun! 

A crowd of little girls were playing “drop the 
handkerchief” and other out-door games, when 
Jakey felt lonely in the boat. He decided to ask 
others to join him. 

“Hey, H’lena Bissel — come on over and sit by 
me — it’s lots of fun rockin’ t’ boat!” called he. 


THE LITTLE CITIZENS’ PICNIC 147 

“Mister Uncle Ben told us not to an’ I won’t!” 
called back Helena. 

“Don’t then! Sugar-lump! — sugar-lump, too 
good to melt!” taunted Jakey, making a grimace 
at the little girl. 

“I ain’t 'sugar ner spice’ but you’re nuttin’ but 
'snails an’ puppy-dog tails,’ so!” jeered Helena, 
who had heard the Mother Goose line and wanted 
to repeat it at the first occasion. 

“Mamma’s pet ! Mamma’s pet — what can’t do 
what she wants cuz she’s too goody-good!” re- 
plied Jakey, turning his back upon the angry 
little girl. 

Helena marched away from his company, and 
soon Jakey saw Maggie’s little sister Prunel with 
nothing to do. 

“Come and play wid me, Prunel,” coaxed he, 
not mentioning the boat this time as it seemed 
to inspire his hearers with doubt and fear. 

Prunel (where Maggie had found the name is 
hard to say) was really named Polly, but such 
harsh sounds could not be tolerated by Mother 
Maggie, and when she took control of the six 
younger sisters and brothers, she saw to it that 


i 4 8 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

each one had a beautiful name, thus Polly became 
Prunel. 

Prunel was about seven and very energetic 
for her age. It took much of Maggie’s time and 
thought to keep Prunel out of mischief at Happy 
Hills. In the city, Prunel had to attend school 
and look after a short route of newspaper deliv- 
eries after school. 

“What’che playin’, Jakey?” asked Prunel, com- 
ing over to the lake-side. 

“Oh I’m a navy battle-ship and dat subma- 
rine’s tryin’ to blow me up. I am shootin’ him 
all to pieces, see?” 

As he explained, Jakey aimed stone after 
stone at the nearest boat while he stood balancing 
himself in the other boat. 

“Shall I be the German what shoots the tor- 
pedo?” asked Prunel, all intense interest. 

“Naw, you git in wid me and both of us kin 
sink him, I guess,” replied Jakey. 

“It won’t be half as much fun as if we had 
someone to really fight,” suggested Prunel. 

“I got a fine idea — you jus’ get in here quick!” 

So Prunel, without knowing it had been for- 


THE LITTLE CITIZENS’ PICNIC 149 

bidden, got in the boat with Jakey, eager to hear 
his plan. 

“I’m goin’ to break dis rope what holds the 
boat, yeh see, an’ float around both dose subma- 
rines by holdin’ fast to dese overhanging 
branches, see?” 

“Don’t you let go on ’em — cuz yeh hain’t got 
no rope er oars to get back wid,” warned Prunel, 
anxiously. 

“Do you t’ink I’m such a silly?” said Jakey, as 
the boat swung about to the great excitement of 
both sailors. 

It bumped into the end of the other boat, and 
the children laughed gayly as Jakey said: 
“Maybe I diden’ jar dat Hun dat trip, eh?” 

“It would be heaps more fun if you’d get in 
anudder boat and play shoot at mine. I could 
fire back, and we could see which one gets hit 
t’ most — den he would be sunk, you know !” said 
Prunel. 

“It sounds good — say, you keep in dis boat 
while I jump in dat one. You’ve got a lot of 
stones left but I kin get some from the bank in a 
minute,” consented Jakey. 

Jakey went to the end of the boat and stood 


150 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

upon the prow waiting for an opportunity to 
spring over into the adjoining boat. This was 
easy to do, and soon he jumped and landed safely 
in the bottom of the flat boat, but the impetus 
he used when springing sent the other boat out 
from under him and Prunel, being alone and 
without any hold on willow-branch or rope, was 
floated out from shore. 

“Say, Jakey Muller — hurry out and get me 
back!” called Prunel, but not loud enough for 
the others to hear, as she knew it was not just 
what she should have done without asking per- 
mission. 

“S-sh! Wait a minute! I’ll wade out and 
pull you back!” replied Jakey, in a low voice also. 

He sat down and pulled off his sandals and 
stockings, but the boat had caught the edge of 
the current that made a channel quite near shore 
at this spot of the lake. 

He endeavored to reach the end of the boat 
but it eluded his hand. Then he waded deeper 
and tried again, still the boat moved outward and 
Prunel was becoming frightened. 

“Oh pshaw — I gotta jump fer it!” growled 
Jakey, and at that he reached quickly while 


THE LITTLE CITIZENS’ PICNIC 15 1 

taking a far-advanced step. His foot went in a 
hole, and he fell face downward into the lake. 
The boat sped onward now faster, as it felt the 
carrying tide of the current. 

Before Jakey could regain his footing and 
splutter out the water that choked him and 
blinded his eyes, Prunel was at least fifty feet 
from shore. She had remained perfectly quiet 
until now, thinking Jakey would surely rescue 
her. But when she saw him fall, and get up 
again without hope of reaching her, she began 
to whimper with fear. 

Jakey took a last look at her and with fear in 
his eyes as he thought of his disobedience, 
he turned to run away from the picnic grove — 
even if he had to run all the way back to the 
city. He could not face Uncle Ben’s stern re- 
buke, for he was sure he would be properly 
scolded and punished for breaking a law. 

Had not Maggie seen a boat with one passen- 
ger skim, out in the direction of the old grist- 
mill, Prunel might have met with more serious 
disaster than that which befell her craft. 

“Looka dere, Miss Marting! A little girl is 
out in a boat alone,” called Maggie to her friend. 


152 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“Why — it’s ” Miss Martin quickly glanced 

at Maggie before completing her sentence. 

But Maggie, too, saw a resemblance to Pru- 
nel. She hurriedly hunted about amongst the 
groups of children, and not finding her sister 
anywhere, she shouted to one of the Policemen. 

In the meantime, Miss Martin, understanding 
the situation, ran to tell Uncle Ben what had 
happened to Prunel. He called upon the Police 
and Firemen nearest him and all ran to the place 
where the three boats had been tied but a short 
time before. 

Here they saw Jakey wading from the water 
and taking to his heels so the Policeman who 
had warned him cried: “Now what’che gone 
and done?” 

Jakey trembled from head to foot as he was 
caught and brought back to Uncle Ben. Then he 
explained how the accident had happened to Pru- 
nel. As he hurriedly described the scene, the 
Police found that neither boat had any oars so 
pursuit to bring back the water-waif in that way 
was out of the question. 

“Can anyone swim dat far?” questioned one of 
the firemen. 


THE LITTLE CITIZENS’ PICNIC 153 

“Not in fresh water — I kin swim anywhere in 
salt water,” returned one of the boys. 

“Mebbe de boat’ll float in to shore down fur- 
der. Mister Uncle Ben, dere’s a finger of land 
runs out way down, you see !” 

“But there is also a mill-race just the other 
side of that finger of land, and the current to the 
mill runs mighty fast about that jutting bank. 
If the boat doesn’t come in or isn’t caught before 
it reaches that place it is impossible to say what 
may be the consequences. An old water-wheel 
turns the mill and the race feeds the wheel. The 
child is in danger out there with no means of 
helping herself and we are here with no way to 
reach her,” said Uncle Ben, anxiously. 

“What’s all the excitement — anyone fall over- 
board?” called Jinks, coming up and asking his 
question laughingly. 

“Little Prunel is afloat in that boat — see her 
down the lake there?” replied Mete, who was 
standing beside Uncle Ben. 

“Great Scott ! And all of you standing around 
here doing nothing?” cried Jinks, scornfully, run- 
ning away to the squad of Police who were still 
umpiring the last game of ball. 


154 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“Hey there! Dutchy — did you bring your 
dog?” yelled Jinks, when he had covered half the 
distance between the two groups. 

“Yeh! Why?” came back the answer. 

“What’s Jinks going to do with the dog?” 
asked Uncle Ben, starting to run after the boy, 
and thus starting all the other boys on the ground 
running after him. Inside of a minute the long 
line of boys running, looked like a thriller in a 
moving-picture play. 

“Leave it to Jinks to think up some way of 
rescue!” called Ned and Mete, panting beside 
Uncle Ben. 

“Remember that fire we went to when we were 
on the Canal trip?” added Don, who came just 
too late to do all the talking to Jinks. 

Before the crowd of curious boys reached the 
spot where Jinks had hurriedly explained the 
situation to Bill, the two boys and a few of the 
ball-players had started off along the shore, call- 
ing and whistling to the great mongrel dog that 
was Bill’s beloved and particular care. 

The shaggy, tawny hound came crashing from 
the bushes with tail wagging joyously at the un- 
usual outing he was given that day. When Bill 


THE LITTLE CITIZENS’ PICNIC 155 

saw him, he snapped his fingers and called ex- 
citedly : 

“Crummie go in and fetch ! Fetch it out, good 
ol’ doggie!” and at the same time, he threw a 
stone far out into the lake to attract the dog’s at- 
tention to the water. 

Crummie went in ker-splash and swam about 
for a short time looking for the object which 
his master had thrown for him to bring out 
again. 

“Say, Dutchy, Prunel is too far out for the 
dog to reach — let’s run along shore till we get to 
the finger over there. You see, the current runs 
quite close in to shore there and we can send 
Crummie out from that spot. Maybe we can 
tie a rope to his collar and let him swim out with 
it to the boat, then we can pull the girl in to 
shore,” quickly explained Jinks. 

“Fine ! Say you, Dink Brown — run back and 
get a rope er somethin’ fer us, will you? We’ll 
be down on that finger waitin’ fer you. Mebbe 
we kin shout an’ make the kid hear what we want 
her to do,” replied Bill. 

Before he had completed his sentence, Dink 
was running back to Uncle Ben to ask for a rope. 


1 56 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

Then the other boys with the dog ran swiftly 
away to the spot Jinks had designated. 

As they ran, Jinks found a section of news- 
paper on the pathway, and this he caught up and 
began rolling into a long tube. 

“ What’s ’at fer?” asked Bill. 

“Make a megaphone for us to call through, 
you know.” 

“Big idea ! Make it wide at the open end so’s 
she can git the call better. If you make it nar- 
row the sound won’t go out so clear, you see.” 

At the finger of land, Jinks stood out on a 
large rock and shouted and shouted at Prunel 
who was crying fearfully and kneeling in the bot- 
tom of the boat while clinging to the oar-lock. 

At the echo of Jinks’ call she looked about but 
did not at first see the boys standing where the 
channel curved in towards land. At the second 
shout, however, she looked in the direction from 
which the sound came, and stopped wailing as 
she saw the group of police waiting to assist her. 

Then she heard her name called and listened 
to what was said. 

“We’re going to send the dog out to the boat 
— you call ‘Here Crummie! here Crummie!’ as 


THE LITTLE CITIZENS’ PICNIC 157 

soon as he goes in the water. He will come to 
you and then you will find a rope tied to his col- 
lar. Fasten the rope to the ring in the boat and 
we will haul you in !” 

It needed several trials before Prunel under- 
stood the plan, but once she did it was all right, 
although the boat was fast reaching the place 
where the current flowed in towards land so the 
dog had to hurry out with the rope if it was to 
work as planned. 

“Here I come — get him ready !” called the boy 
who had been sent for the rope. 

The boys turned and saw him racing along 
with a long coil of swing rope that had been 
hastily cut down to use. Dink, being the swiftest 
runner in camp, was soon back with the Police 
and Jinks. 

One end of the rope was tied to Crummie’s old 
leather collar and then he was sent in to bring 
out Prunel. At the same time Jinks shouted 
through the megaphone : 

“Call him, Prunel ! Call him, again and again, 
till he reaches you with the rope.” 

Then they heard the little girl cry excitedly: 
“Here Crummie! Here Crummie!” 


158 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“See her over there, Crummie ? Fetch her out ! 
Fetch her out, I say! Go get it — get it — good 
doggie!” coaxed Bill. 

And Crummie, sniffing over the water, saw 
the approaching boat and heard the child’s cry 
for help. Instantly the yellow dog understood 
what was required of him and in he went, drag- 
ging the long line of rope after him. 

The boys on shore held their breath so the 
dog would not be confused, and Prunel kept on 
calling, “Here Crummie ! Here Crummie ! Good 
dog — come to me, Crummie!” 

And the dog swam as fast as he could in a 
direct line for the object he saw on the surface 
of the lake. He came within five feet of it when 
it swept past him in the current now running 
fast to the mill-race. 

Groans and cries on shore showed that more 
than one anxious group were watching the ef- 
forts of the brave dog. But Crummie was of 
the nature that resents failure or trickery. He 
was of the dogged kind that will fight harder in 
spite of all obstacles, and perseverance and per- 
sistence always win out ! 

Crummie kept on swimming after the boat 


THE LITTLE CITIZENS’ PICNIC 159 

while Prunel continued calling and pleading, and 
the boys on the bank kept on anxiously letting 
the rope out and wondering if it was long enough 
to reach. 

“Gee, Jinks, it’s the end!” gasped Bill. 

And just as Jinks was about to give up in de- 
spair, one of the other boys yelled: “By golly! 
Crummie’s got hold of the rope that dragged 
after the boat!” 

Everyone strained their eyes to see, and sure 
enough the dog had caught hold of the rope that 
had tied the boat to the bank and was swimming 
back the way he came against the current. 

The struggling animal was not making much 
headway against the swift stream and Jinks in- 
stantly saw that he would tire himself out and 
be useless, so he signaled to Bill, and the two 
ran through the bushes growing on the shore and 
reached a place opposite the boat. Then Jinks 
called again to the dog. 

“Here, Crummie! Crummie, come in here!” 

At the strange voice, the dog stopped battling 
against the current but did not turn. However, 
Bill saw through Jinks’ idea and quickly abetted 
him,. 


i6o THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


“Here, good old Crummie! Fetch it home! 
Fetch it home !” 

And at his master’s well-known call, the dog 
turned and swam for shore where the two boys 
were waiting to help. Jinks pulled off his shoes 
and stockings, rolled up his trousers and waded 
in as far as he could. When Crummie came 
within arm’s reach, Jinks leaned out to catch hold 
of the rope, but the dog growled fiercely. 

“Ha, ha, ha! Crummie won’t let you inter- 
fere ! He don’t know what you’re after — mebbe 
you want to take away the prize he’s bringin’ in 
to me!” laughed Bill, delightedly, now that the 
strain was over. 

Even Jinks laughed at the treatment he had 
been given by the dog, but Crummie dragged the 
rope straight up to his master and left it in his 
hands. Then it was seen that the rope that had 
been tied to the old collar had torn it away and 
was out in the lake. 

“When did the swing rope break?” asked Don, 
who failed to understand. 

“Soon after the strain came on it, most likely,” 
said Mete. 

2 T11 tell you what I think!” ventured Uncle 


THE LITTLE CITIZENS’ PICNIC 161 


Ben, who had hurried up with Maggie, and now 
stood patting Crummie’s wet, matted head. 

The children all looked at him for an opinion, 
and he continued: 

“I think that Crummie would have gone for 
that boat and found his own way to drag it back 
to land, whether any of you boys had interfered 
with him or not. Now, seeing that our hero dog 
lost his neck-band in his effort to save a life, I 
shall award him the medal for bravery this 
month. Anyone opposing this motion say ‘No!’; 
if there is no opposition and everyone agrees with 
me that Crummie shall have the prize let us all 
say ‘Aye !’ ” 

Such a tremendous shout of “Ayes” went out 
instantly, that Crummie was unanimously voted 
the hero for the month, and Bill was the proudest 
boy in camp. 

“What’s the prize going to be, Uncle Ben?” 
asked Don. 

“Oh something that Crummie will appreciate 
and everyone will stop to admire and read. I’m 
thinking a wonderful studded collar with his 
name and the story of the rescue engraved on a 
silver plate might be suitable.” 


1 62 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

"Oh yes — yes, indeed !” chorused most of the 
Blue Birds and Bobolinks. 

"And, Uncle Ben, spend a lot of money on it to 
make it as big and shiny as you can,” advised 
Dot Starr. 

"How much money do you think will do?” 
asked Uncle Ben, teasingly. 

"Well, you know how much a funeral for Pru- 
nel would have cost if Crummie hadn't saved 
her life, so you might as well spend that much 
anyway,” replied Dot in all seriousness. 

"Oh, Eve got an idea !” cried Don, inspired by 
his twin's words. "Have it tell on the collar that 
the prize is a souvenir of a watery grave that was 
never filled by the saved child 'cause Crummie 
was here to fly to the rescue — you might say 
‘swim' to the rescue, only it doesn't sound as 
grand as ‘fly.' ” 

Everyone laughed heartily at Don's sugges- 
tion, and Ned said: "Don's growing a streak 
of poesy and we all had better beware or he'll 
rhyme us into jingles some day.” 

Don scorned such ideas, and after giving Ned 
a meaning look, he said: "I wouldn't be any- 
thing so silly as a jingler like Ned Talmage is! 


THE LITTLE CITIZENS’ PICNIC 163 

I’m going to buy Crummie and start a kennel of 
fine life-saving dogs to send to the Allies! So 
there!” 

“Ha! that’s why Don wants Uncle Ben to 
spend all that funeral money on a collar. He’ll 
sell the collar and keep the money to found the 
kennels!” laughed Mete, in a big brother’s tone 
of voice. 

“Say, you kids ! Don’t fool yourselves on dat 
score! Dis dog is mine and he stays mine till 
the las’ trumpet blows — see!” was the last word 
from Crummie’s master, and the yellow dog 
wagged his tail approvingly as he blinked up into 
Bill’s blue-green eyes. 


CHAPTER X 


miss martin's nature: storie:s 

The picnic was declared a grand success in 
spite of the fright little Prunel had had, for such 
a thrill as the Little Citizens had been treated to 
at the danger and escape of one of their mem- 
bers was not to be had every day ! So that event 
added glory to the occasion and was one long to 
be remembered. 

The day after the outing, most of the Little 
Citizens were seated at the Auditorium (as they 
called the Refectory when other occasions de- 
manded its use) waiting for the Blue Birds who 
had promised to come and hear Miss Martin’s 
nature story that day. 

Miss Martin was seen coming from her Nest 
and soon after she had greeted the children, the 
Blue Birds were heard laughing and talking as 
they hurried down Harebell Road. 

When all were seated Miss Martin began: 

“I’m going to tell you about some pests we 

164 


MISS MARTIN’S NATURE STORIES 165 

have in camp, and your Uncle Ben agreed to be 
present so he could hear what a nuisance they 
are. I see him coming from the Fire-house so 
he will soon be here. Before he arrives, how- 
ever, I want to ask you children a favor. When 
my story is finished I shall call upon you to ask 
how many will volunteer to work in the Health 
Department for a few days to get rid of flies 
and mosquitoes, and I wish every one here to 
offer their services to Uncle Ben.” 

“Oh we will ! You don’t have to ask us a favor 
like that — we’d do it anyway!” replied one of 
the Health Inspectors. 

“Am I late?” asked Uncle Ben, now coming 
over to the group gathered to hear the stories. 

“Just in time,” replied Ruth, making a place 
for him. 

“My first story will be about a mosquito that 
settled down at Happy Hills and founded the 
colony of pests that annoys us so at camp. 

“Skinny was a malarial mosquito that hap- 
pened to crawl from the reeds near the lake into 
a carpenter’s tool chest while the man was eating 
his lunch late last fall. As his job was com- 
pleted, the carpenter caught up the tool box and 


1 66 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


hurried towards Miss Selina’s place to leave it in 
the tool-house. 

“Skinny was very sleepy because of the cold 
air, and the tool-box being left in a snug, sunny 
spot on a shelf in the tool-house, she soon fell 
asleep for the long cold winter months. 

“But in the spring the warm sun-rays roused 
her and she began to open her sleepy eyes and 
stretch her stiffened legs; her poor wings she 
could not use at once — they were so nerveless 
and stiff that it took some practice to whip them 
into general use again. She succeeded some- 
what, just as the carpenter came in and took up 
the tool-chest. 

“ 'Where’re you goin’ to work, Pete ?’ asked 
a man standing outside the shed. 

“ 'Down at Happy Hills Camp. I’m goin’ to 
build some Nests for the Blue Birds’ Little Citi- 
zens, you know.’ 

“ 'Well, thar ain’t no mosquitoes around er no 
flie*s, either, so you won’t be pestered any, I 
guess,’ said the first man, as Pete walked away 
down Daffodil Lane. 

“Skinny heard the conversation and smiled. 
'Not a mosquito on the place, eh? Well I will 


MISS MARTIN’S NATURE STORIES 167 

have to get busy and change that lonesome state 
of affairs mighty quick!’ 

“So poor Pete carried the little pest along in 
his harmless tool-chest, and while he left it stand- 
ing in die sunshine until he could find the boss 
carpenter, the sun rays made Skinny feel so lively 
that she decided to try her wings and soar a bit. 

“This was easier than she had thought pos- 
sible, so she flew down to a little shallow pool 
in the creek for a drink of water. Here she 
found a slimy little back-water puddle so warm 
and comfortable that she soon chose that spot 
for the eggs she proposed laying to found the 
mosquito colony of Happy Hills. 

“Early the following morning, Mrs. Spot 
Toad saw hundreds of oblong-shaped eggs float- 
ing on the slimy pool, but it was none of her busi- 
ness so she did not report the matter to the 
Board of Health as one of the Little Citizens 
would have done. In fact Spot was so busy with 
her own family cares that she forgot all about 
the mosquito larvae soon after she had seen the 
small sooty specks floating on the water. 

“Skinny left her eggs to hatch and went her 
way rejoicing, but not for long! 


1 68 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


“She had hardly reached a tree where a dozing 
carpenter tempted her to eat, when a mother 
Blue Bird swooped down from her nest and 
caught up the lean, lanky mosquito to feed to 
her babies. Of course there was no nourishment 
in a poor thing like Skinny, but it would help 
fill the gaping mouths of the baby-birds a bit ! 

“Inside of twenty-four hours, Skinny's eggs 
began to hatch out, but they were not mosquitoes 
— they were wrigglers. In appearance they re- 
sembled wooly, little caterpillars, but one end of 
the squirming body was the breathing tube for 
air. The fuzzy part of the wriggler was the 
means of its moving about, and they all wriggled 
or jerked about continually. Some grew faster 
than others, but all grew very fast, their heads 
seeming to grow faster than their bodies. 

F “In about six days' time the wrigglers had 
grown so strong that they floated on the top of 
the water in the hot sunshine, so that the heat 
might crack open the skins that enclosed the 
young mosquitoes. As one shell opened after 
another, the insects crawled out and waited upon 
the tops of their little boats to dry their wings 
and legs. The sun soon accomplished this work, 


MISS MARTIN’S NATURE STORIES 169 

and then the hundreds of young mosquitoes were 
flying about waiting for an opportunity to eat 
something good. 

“About this time the first Little Citizens ap- 
peared at Camp, and many of the children ran 
down to the creek to play in the water. Of course 
Skinny’s family sniffed the sweet young blood of 
the children there, and many a young mosquito 
ate till it almost burst open, and the Little Citi- 
zen had an irritating bite on arms or legs. 

“Many, many of the young mosquitoes re- 
mained near the creek and laid eggs for a new 
family, and others flew away to the puddles in 
the woods, or settled on the eaves of the roof 
where rainwater had left tiny pools. Others saw 
the lake, and still others found water in pails or 
bottles and vessels of all sorts. In a very short 
time every one of Skinny’s children was laying a 
multitude of eggs that would hatch out in a day 
or two, and in ten to twelve days there would be a 
pest of mosquitoes at Happy Hills. 

“By the time Little Citizens were running 
about these woods, playing, or digging by the 
creek, or making mud-pies from the soft mud in 
the little pools, thousands and thousands of nasty 


170 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

mosquitoes were flying and humming every- 
where, while hundreds of thousands were being 
hatched from the wrigglers that had been the 
outcome of eggs laid by every mosquito in the 
place. 

“Finally the Little Citizens had such itching 
red spots on their bodies, and so many of the 
younger children had to keep away from the 
fascinating little brook because of the pesky, 
stinging insects, that Uncle Ben said something 
must be done at once to rid Happy Hills of this 
menace. 

“But what can we do to so many? If we have 
to catch every wriggler or mosquito about Happy 
Hills, it will take ten times the number of Little 
Citizens here to catch and kill them — and then 
there will be thousands of insects left to breed 
new pests. 

“Ah, but there is a way that will smother all 
the young and kill the old mosquitoes! Now lis- 
ten carefully! 

“We will get kerosene or crude oil, and pour 
a little on the surface of the water where- 
ever we think a mosquito has laid her eggs. 
While we are doing it, we will oil all the still 


MISS MARTIN’S NATURE STORIES 17 1 

waters so no mosquito will dare to settle any- 
where and lay new eggs. 

“You see the oil will spread out over the sur- 
face of the water and keep the wrigglers from 
getting air for their bodies — this will soon 
smother them and they will sink to the bottom 
of the pool, dead! The old mosquitoes that 
should come to visit the pond or pools, will light 
upon the glassy, oiled water and instantly find it 
impossible to remove their hairy legs; besides, 
their noses will be filled with the fumes and soon 
choke them so that they, too, will sink down to 
the bottom of the stagnant pool or float dead 
upon the oil. 

j “Happy Hills will then become a comfortable 
place at night and a more enjoyable camp for 
the children at day.” 

Miss Martin concluded her first story and the 
children showed their interest by the many ques- 
tions they asked. Among other things, she was 
asked if there was more than one kind of mos- 
quito, and this brought up an explanation of the 
difference between the malarial mosquito and the 
simply poisonous, stinging kind. 

“The mosquito that causes malaria by its bite 


1 72 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

can be detected if you see it sting, for it always 
stings with head pointed downward and its tail 
and hind legs held straight up in the air. The 
common mosquito stands with its body on a hori- 
zontal line when it stings, but both kinds are 
poisonous and are of no use whatever. The 
sooner the country is cleared of such plagues the 
better/’ 

“You have done a good work, Miss Martin, by 
telling us how to rid the camp of mosquitoes. I 
ordered several barrels of unrefined petroleum 
oil and Jones told me this morning that they are 
at the freight station. He is there now with a 
wagon to bring them back. When he comes, we 
will all start in with cans and anything we can 
find to hold oil, to hunt mosquitoes,” remarked 
Uncle Ben. 

“There’s another pest to be gotten rid of, Mr. 
Talmage,” suggested Miss Martin. 

“And have you a story ready for it?” laughed 
Ned. 

“It won’t take a moment to weave one just 
as long as we may need for the occasion,” replied 
Miss Martin. 


MISS MARTIN’S NATURE STORIES 173 

“Is it the fly that you have such an antipathy 
to?” continued Uncle Ben. 

“Yes, it is, and if you will do as I advise, 
Happy Hills will soon be rid of flies as well as 
mosquitoes/’ rejoined Miss Martin. 

“Well, tell us a story and we will judge of 
the importance of the battle against the fly,” said 
Uncle Ben. 

So Miss Martin sat thinking for a few seconds 
before she began : 

“ ‘Oh, Flossy, did you know Uncle Ben Tal- 
mage has started a camp at Happy Hills for the 
Little Citizens?’ cried a noisy fly to her com- 
panion one nice day in June. 

“‘Really! How interesting; but what good 
will that do us here? We are keeping house in 
the pig’s trough, so how could we hope to reach 
camp so far away?’ 

“ ‘I’ll tell you about a plan I have, Flossy. Of 
course, there will be lots of children staying 
the summer at Happy Hills, and where there are 
little ones there is sure to be food and things 
lying about for flies to picnic upon. Now we 
can steal a ride from the pig-sty to the camp 
when Farmer Jones feeds the pigs. We can sit 


i 7 4 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

in the bottom of his swill-cans and sneak into 
camp without anyone seeing us. Once there we 
can set up housekeeping at any of the Nests. 
Soon we will have a large family and found a 
great fly-colony.' 

“ ‘How wise you are, Noisy! Let us sit in the 
dark corner and wait for the farmer's can,' re- 
plied Flossy, eagerly. 

“So the two flies were carried from the smelly 
pig-sty to the nice clean, brand-new Nest built 
for Miss Martin and her Little Citizens. But 
Miss Martin didn't know the two wicked flies 
had arrived to live in her Nest. 

“No one knew the two flies were perched on 
the edges of the milk-glasses with their filthy, 
fuzzy legs and feet, and leaving all kinds of for- 
eign matter on the glass rim where little babies' 
lips would soon sip the milk! Neither did any- 
one know that one of the pesky flies had just 
deposited its filth on a slice of buttered bread for 
one of the children. But so it happened just the 
same ! 

“There had been a few other flies in the pig-sty 
when the two adventurers started forth, and they 
too decided to follow their friends. So a number 


MISS MARTIN’S NATURE STORIES 175 

of dirty insects caught hold of the horse’s legs 
and belly and thus were brought to camp. Here 
they sought out Flossy and Noisy and suggested 
that they all go to housekeeping together. 

" 'Where shall we set up housekeeping?’ asked 
Noisy. 

" 'Well, when we rode into camp on old Dob- 
bin, we passed by the stables. There are a num- 
ber of choice apartments about the building, and 
I located one in the manure heap outside. An- 
other good flat-house is over where the dump- 
ground is. We can always find decaying fruit 
or rotting stuff there,’ returned one of the new 
arrivals. 

"So Flossy and her husband started housekeep- 
ing in the dump-ground, while Noisy and her 
spouse settled in the manure heap by the barns. 
Noisy crawled about over the damp straws that 
had been swept out from the stable-stalls and 
soon found a fine spot to deposit her eggs. 

"That evening Noisy and her husband flew 
back to camp to visit Little Citizens and see what 
they could do to interfere with the wholesome 
plans of Uncle Ben and Miss Martin. 

"The hundreds of tiny white eggs laid in the 


1 76 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

manure heap by Mother Noisy, as her first brood 
of children for that summer, and the hundreds 
laid by Flossy in the dump-heap to found her big 
family, began instantly to hatch out into queer 
worm-like creatures. In less than twenty-four 
hours a swarm of these pests were stirring about 
as lively as could be, and in less than a day after 
they were hatched from the eggs, they cast off 
their skins. It took another day for them to shed 
a second coat, and then a day or two later they 
got rid of a third skin. 

"Now they looked like little oval grubs that 
remained as quiet as if there was no life within 
them, but at the end of a week, the shells cracked 
open and a multitude of young flies crept out to 
fly away just as Noisy did from the pig-sty where 
she was born. 

"The thousands of flies hatched out of the 
manure heap and dumping-ground now feasted 
on all the filth and decaying mess they could find 
and soon they were laying eggs wherever a 
smelly dirty spot could be found, because flies 
prefer filth to cleanliness. 

"Thousands more hatched from these eggs and 
in three generations of flies, and in three weeks' 


MISS MARTIN’S NATURE STORIES 177 

time, there were millions of horrid pests flying 
about camp. Millions buzzed in our ears and 
slapped their dirty wings in our faces. Millions 
crept over our food leaving the nasty trails of 
their hairy feet everywhere — but so fine a dirt 
that we could not see it with our naked eyes. 
There were millions to bite baby’s sweet rosy lip, 
to tickle our noses with their fuzzy legs and 
tails, to drop into the butter, or swim about in 
our water and milk, always leaving their filth 
as a mark of their nuisance! 

“Then along came the man with the barrels of 
oil from the station, and the pools and damp 
places about camp were soon saturated with kero- 
sene. It was noticed that the flies kept away 
from such spots. 

“ ‘Suppose we try oil on the hatching places 
of the flies, Miss Martin?’ asked Uncle Ben. 

“ ‘It will kill the eggs anyway, and may catch 
some of the flies. But we can keep everything 
securely covered and screened so a fly will have 
to starve and then be forced to eat from the 
poisoned saucer filled with water. Soon we can 
kill off all the old flies and with the breeding 


178 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

spots disinfected there will be no flies to sicken 
us/ replied Miss Martin, and so it was. 

“Little Citizens hated the flies almost as much 
as did Miss Martin and the other grown-ups at 
Happy Hills, and as soon as the oil-barrels were 
opened and ready for use, everyone started out 
to find breeding nests of flies and soak them well 
with oil. 

“And what a lovely summer the rest of that 
season was at camp, without flies or mosquitoes 
to annoy the very life out of one!” 

“Ha, ha ! That’s a better story than the first ! 
Here comes Jones with the farm-wagon bringing 
in the barrels! Come on, Police and Health 
Board — to work to rid the camp of pests!” 

At Bill’s call to Little Citizens, they jumped 
up and hurriedly thanking Miss Martin for her 
stories, ran off to meet the driver with the oil- 
cans. 

“There, that is one way to plant ambition for 
better conditions,” sighed Miss Martin, feeling 
she had invested her half-hour to some good pur- 
pose. 


CHAPTER XI 


THE AMUSEMENT COMPANY 

The next few days were very busy ones for 
the Little Citizens, but the comfort and peace 
about camp was remarked by everyone, especially 
Uncle Ben. 

“I declare, I never dreamed flies and mos- 
quitoes could make folks so miserable and irri- 
table with each other !” said he. 

“Now that those two pests are diminishing, I 
wish to mention another cause of impatience and 
concern in camp. The boys and girls past the 
age of eight or nine, who are not actively en- 
gaged with the Police, Firemen, or other depart- 
ments established at Happy Hills, really need 
something to occupy their thoughts and time. In 
the city they have so many ways of working or 
entertaining themselves — often detrimental, too, 
that time begins to hang heavily on their hands 
now that the novelty of country life is wearing 
off,” explained Miss Martin. 


i8o THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


“But I don’t know of anything more we can 
do to keep them busy,” replied Uncle Ben, with 
an anxious frown. 

“I have an idea and it may work out to the 
benefit and amusement of everyone.” 

“Til be glad to try anything you say,” returned 
Uncle Ben, encouragingly. 

“Let us start ‘An Amusement Company.’ 
Elect managers of the different departments and 
‘stars’ and ‘supers’ and have the Band furnish 
music. If you think well of my idea we may 
even go so far as to reward the actors and mu- 
sicians who entertain us best. Let it be known 
that this company is formed more as a means 
of starting various contests for music, oratory, 
and acting, and is open for all entries, young, 
aged, small or large citizens.” 

“Humph! Who is there to teach them such 
things ?” 

“I do not believe the street children of a large 
city need much teaching in entertaining. They 
are so precocious and experienced from their life 
in general, that they only need suggestions to 
boost their ideas,” laughed Miss Martin. 

“Well, it will cost us nothing to try out your 


THE AMUSEMENT COMPANY 181 


idea any way, and no harm will be done if it 
fails to inspire your performers as you think 
it will.” 

“And I know just what you think, Mr. Tal- 
mage! You are secretly laughing at the failure 
you are sure will follow this endeavor,” retorted 
Miss Martin. 

“I really hope you will not be disappointed in. 
your high appraisal of these city children’s bril- 
liant possibilities,” returned Uncle Ben. 

“We’ll see! If you will find some sort of a 
‘drop-curtain’ even if it does not drop — we can 
draw it on rings slipped over a pole ; and a raised 
stage, it will be all I shall ask of you. The stage 
can be a bare platform raised about two feet 
above the Refectory floor. It can be built on a 
rough framework, and take little time or cost to 
construct.” 

“I will get some of the older boys to help me 
build it, and the Bobolink Boys will revel in saw- 
ing and hammering, I know.” 

“Well then, you announce the new society to 
Little Citizens and have all who wish to enter 
the contests register with me during the next 


1 82 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

three days, and I will examine each one to find 
what each one is capable of doing.” 

Uncle Ben smiled indulgently at what he be- 
lieved to be Miss Martin’s mistaken judgment, 
and agreed to call the Little Citizens together 
that everting to tell them of the plan for their 
amusement. 

The plan for starting an amusement company 
met with great approval as was shown in various 
ways, and the next morning Miss Martin was 
sought by those who wished to join the new club. 
In fact some of the children appeared at her Nest 
before breakfast so as to be listed in parts they 
hoped to fill. 

“Children, suppose you wait until I have had 
something to eat and then we will go into this 
work,” laughed Miss Martin. 

' “Well, don’t you let anyone take our place — 
remember we came first !” warned several voices. 

“This Nest will be too small to hold you all so 
I suggest that we use a folding table as a desk 
and find some secluded spot in the grove where 
we will be away from the confusion of camp 
work. If one has to be tried out in any line he 
can perform without feeling embarrassed by 


THE AMUSEMENT COMPANY 183 

others watching or hearing him,” said Miss Mar- 
tin, to the group waiting anxiously for her. 

'Til carry the folding-table over when you’re 
ready to go!” quickly offered Bill, who had an 
idea of what he would do in the new company. 

“And I’ll take the chair !” added Joe. 

“All right, boys; now let us have breakfast 
and do our camp chores — then we will be ready 
to begin our fun!” 

Camp work was through sooner than ever that 
morning and before ten o’clock Miss Martin was 
seated before the impromptu desk in the quiet 
shady grove. 

“Now, Molly Brown — you were so anxious to 
sign up this morning — what can you do to enter- 
tain an audience?” said Miss Martin, smiling at 
the ten-year-old girl. 

“I kin ride bareback!” was the startling an- 
swer. 

“Ride bareback — but what good will that do us 
in a show-house?” gasped Miss Martin. 

“You’se don’t have to keep yersels to one show, 
does you? In Noo York der’s a theayter an’ a 
hippodrome, too !” was Molly’s quick reply. 

This opened vast possibilities before Miss 


1 84 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

Martin's vision, and before she could collect her- 
self to speak wisely, one of the boys said: 

“I t'ink dat's a good idee! Lots of us kin do 
stunts dat goes wid a hippodrome show what 
can't be did on a stage in a regerler theayter." 

“Very well, then; Molly, will you sit down at 
my left hand side where I will place all the circus 
actors, and the stage performers can go to my 
right," said Miss Martin, hastily postponing her 
other answer. 

Molly sat down upon the grass with a satis- 
fied manner — was she not going to be robed in 
tarletan and tinsel some day and leap gracefully 
from an Arabian horse's back, then throw kisses 
at an admiring audience? That is how Molly 
pictured herself. 

“Bill, what do you propose doing?" asked the 
investigator of the theatrical company. 

“Well, I kin do lots of stunts, but best of all 
I kin blow my horn. I will like to stay in de 
band wedder you'se have it for the theayter or fer 
de circus." 

“All right, Bill, then I'll enter you as cornetist. 
But you must practice and render a solo every 
now and then for a prize, you know ?" 


THE AMUSEMENT COMPANY 185 

“Yes’m, I knows !” 

Bill’s name was entered and he signed himself 
as a solo-cornetist in the company. As he was 
about to place the pen back on the table he had 
a brilliant idea. 

“Miss Marting, why can’t I enter Crummie 
fer a show?” 

“Ah yes, Miss Martin — Crummie is a swell 
show-dog! He does lots of tricks what oughter 
be known by a real circus man ; he would get paid 
a lot of money fer ’em,” added several voices 
back of Bill. 

“Really ! How interesting! Of course we will 
enter Crummie with the other actors. He can’t 
sign for himself, but we will let Bill do it,” ex- 
plained Miss Martin. 

A chorus of laughter made her look about at 
the amused faces, and Bill placed his two fingers 
between his lips and gave a shrill whistle. Crum- 
mie had roamed away from the group at the desk 
in search of squirrels or chipmunks, but at that 
call he came bounding back to his master’s side. 

“Say, Crummie, Miss Marting says ye can’t 
sign yer name! She t’inks yer a fool dog an’ 
it’s up t’ you t’ show her she’s mistaken,” laughed 


1 86 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

Bill, delightedly, as he took up the pen he had 
laid aside and dipped it in the ink. 

Miss Martin instantly suspected the act that 
was to be performed for her benefit; that it was 
generally known to the other children was evi- 
denced by the way they laughed when she sug- 
gested that Bill sign for the dog. 

Crummie stood upon his hind legs and placed 
his fore-paws carefully on the edge of the table. 
Then Bill pushed the sheet of paper over under 
his nose, and the dog took hold of the pen-handle 
with his teeth. By moving his head up and down 
and from side to side, he managed to scrawl a 
number of circles and lines, then he lifted his 
nose high in the air to take the pen-point from 
the paper and when he brought it down again 
he made a period very near the ending of his 
writing. 

Everyone laughed and cried “Good doggie” 
and Miss Martin patted his head as she laugh- 
ingly said : “Crummie is truly a wonder. He is 
our first performer for the public pleasure.” 

“Dat’s nuttin, Miss Marting; Crummie kin do 
lots of stunts better’n dat!” bragged Bill. 

It took some time to assure Crummie that he 


THE AMUSEMENT COMPANY 187 

need not show off any more of his tricks that 
time, as there was too much clerical work to 
accomplish to stop for him. But the dog re- 
sented the business-like tone of Miss Martin, and 
when she would have removed the pen from his 
teeth he wheeled about and ran off to the woods 
with it. 

Bill gave hot pursuit but Crummie was fleet- 
footed, so everyone laughed at the trick the dog 
had turned on the company. After a time, Bill 
returned with the pen, but it showed signs of 
having been through sharp-pointed teeth before 
it was recovered. 

“He was jus' goin’ to dig a hole and bury it 
when I crept up behind and caught hoF on his 
tail. Dat made him open his mouth, y’ know, 
and the pen dropped out,” laughed Bill. 

No further unexpected interruptions took 
place, so Miss Martin proceeded with the pro- 
gramme of actors. 

“What is your specialty, Jim?” to a freckle- 
faced lad of eleven. 

“Me fadder was a champeen clog-dancer in 
Dublin, an’ he teached me de dance afore he 


1 88 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


died. I kin clog to beat de band!” said Jimmy, 
eagerly. 

“Oh fine! Will you show us a sample of it, 
some time?” replied Miss Martin as she wrote 
down Jim’s accomplishment. 

“Shure, but not on de grass, ye know, Miss 
Marting! It needs wood floors and wood clogs.” 

“Yes, and we will have you dance on the Re- 
fectory floor soon.” 

From Jim she went to one of the girls, who 
appeared impatient to tell of her talents. 

“Well, Jenny, your turn next.” 

“Miss Martin, I kin take off anyone you wants 
me to! I does it for fun at home an’ teacher 
says I’m the funniest girl she ever saw!” 

“Jenny, suppose you impersonate Dinah, the 
cook?” said Miss Martin. 

Dinah was a true southerner and spoke with 
all the old-time darkey accent. Jenny beamed at 
the simple trial given her, and cleared her throat 
to begin. 

“Oh yo’ Jenny! Come yeah, Ah say, chile! 
Doan yo’ heah yo’ Mammy callin’ yo? Heah 
I’se waitin’ fo’ to carry yo’ ober Jordan an’ yo’ 
don’ heah me, nohow !” 


THE AMUSEMENT COMPANY 189 

Jenny's manner and voice, to say nothing of 
the expression on her face, was so exactly the 
counterpart of Dinah's that everyone screamed 
with enjoyment. 

“Jenny, that is very clever! Can you imitate 
my ways as well?" laughed Miss Martin, after 
the fun had subsided. 

“Oh you'se is easy to do, but don'che git mad 
at me?" pleaded Jenny. 

“Of course not, child. It is all done in a spirit 
of fun." 

Then Jenny mimicked Miss Martin to such 
perfection that Uncle Ben, who had quietly ap- 
proached the group, clapped his hands and 
laughed. 

Examination went on merrily after Uncle 
Ben's appearance, and many talents were dis- 
covered in the number of Little Citizens who 
applied that morning. And so diversified were 
the abilities signed up for, that Miss Martin felt 
sure of succeeding not only with a theater com- 
pany but with a circus troupe as well. 

“I have discovered an embryo Buffalo Bill 
among the boys, and he will have charge of the 


1 9 o THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

lassoing and broncho busting,” said Miss Martin 
looking at her lists. 

“And Molly rides bare-back. Several boys are 
pugilists and target shooters. With practice they 
will be able to take the part of Indians in fighting 
and shooting, then we can have the old scene 
of Buffalo Bill’s stage-coach hold-up in the West. 

“A dozen boys wish to form a string orchestra, 
and half of the boys here are already interested 
in the Brass Band. With all the other talent I 
have discovered, I should say we might give an 
excellent circus — lacking only the wild animals 
and freaks.” 

“If I agree to supply the freaks and wild ani- 
mals will you promise to produce a good circus 
troupe for a show ?” asked Uncle Ben, seriously, 
yet his eyes twinkled humorously. 

Miss Martin looked steadfastly at him for a 
few moments before she said: “Are you seri- 
ous?” 

“Certainly I am. Don’t you think the Little 
Citizens ought to give an entertainment to all 
the friends who have worked so hard to make 
this camp a success?” 

“There is nothing they’d rather do, I’m sure, 


THE AMUSEMENT COMPANY 19 1 

than to give a circus. It will be the natural out- 
let of much pent up energy,” laughed Miss Mar- 
tin. 

“Then let us have a circus, by all means. We'll 
get Richards to make an announcement of it to 
all the people who are interested in this venture." 

So it was decided to experiment with the talent 
at camp, and see if there would be anything to 
work on in giving a huge circus to which all 
friends and acquaintances would be invited. 


CHAPTER XII 


THE CIRCUS AT HAPPY HILLS 

"Mister Uncle Ben, ain’t che goin’ to ask no 
money fer our circus?” asked Joe Brennan, when 
he heard of the entertainment. 

"Why no, Joe, this is to be a treat given by 
us to the people who did so much for Little Citi- 
zens. It will cost them a lot of money just to get 
here, as it is.” 

"Dey all got autermobiles what dey will use. 
Dey don’t have to buy car-tickets,” argued Joe. 

"The autos use gasoline, you know, and it is. 
a long ride. Besides, Joe, why do you ask such 
a question. The cash taken in wouldn’t do you 
any good?” wondered Uncle Ben. 

"I was t’inkin’ — we could start a fund fer dat 
city home yeh know — de one you’se said oughter 
be run fer Little Citizens. I ain’t got no home 
to live in when I gets back to Noo York and it’s 
cold in winter, lemme tell you !” 

"Joe, I am going to take up that very subject 

192 


THE CIRCUS AT HAPPY HILLS 193 

with these people when they get here and show 
them the good that home-life has done for you all. 
Now if you will promise to keep this secret, IT1 
explain just why I’m anxious to have them see 
you boys and girls perform and do your best in 
some way.” 

Joe eagerly agreed to keep the secret, and 
Uncle Ben continued: 

“I've been planning about that City Home 
ever since we discovered Maggie could sing and 
Nelly could design, and some of you boys could 
play so well on musical instruments. I see that 
it will be necessary to bring all those interested 
welfare workers together here to see for them- 
selves just what good a home in the city will do 
to you all. It isn't the circus so much, as the 
idea to get them here and see the improvement 
in Little Citizens." 

Joe grinned at the confidence shared with him 
and said he would do all ^ c^Id to make the 
show a success. 

Uncle Ben then stopped at Mother Maggie's 
Nest to ask her which of her songs she had de- 
cided to sing at the entertainment. Maggie was 
so joyously happy at the opportunity to sing in 


i 9 4 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

public that she rattled of! ten songs, one on each 
fingertip as she counted — or she would have for- 
gotten some. 

“Oh, Mister Uncle Ben, if we only had gold 
wagons and an elephant! But of course we 
can’t have such wonders!” 

“Some of the boys want a steam calliope to 
play the music for the parade,” ventured Uncle 
Ben. 

“Hoh never! You woulden’ let any such awful 
thing come an’ whistle itself to pieces around 
Happy Hills, would you?” cried Maggie fear- 
fully. 

“No; besides, it is impossible to get a calliope 
without hiring a lot of performers with it, and 
we are going to supply our own talent, you see.” 

“Thank goodness! If one of them screech- 
enjuns came here I’d run and run till I was out 
of hearin’ of it!” said Maggie, decidedly. 

“I suppose you heard that we are to have wild 
animals and other wonderful side-shows, eh?” 
asked Uncle Ben. 

“Yes, an’ I wuz thinkin’, Mister Uncle Ben: 
You’d have to be mos’ pertickler about handlin’ 
them animals ! It takes a man what knows wild 


THE CIRCUS AT HAPPY HILLS 195 

beasteses to look after ’em proper. You might 
git bitten er killed if you don’t look out. I saw 
some at Central Park Zoo, an’ at the Bronx too, 
an’ the keeper had to keep safe away from ’em, 
I tell youf 

“My wild animals won’t hurt anyone. In fact 
the 'lion shall lie down with the lamb’ and the 
wolf will never think of killing,” laughed Uncle 
Ben. 

"Is it a joke?” 

"If I tell you my secret, will you promise never 
to tell anyone?” whispered Uncle Ben. 

Maggie quickly agreed, and thereupon she 
heard the most remarkable secret as was yet con- 
nected with the circus. 

"Oh Mister Uncle Ben ! How funny ! Won’t 
everyone laff!” said she after a hearty laugh. 
But she kept the secret. 

Uncle Ben proceeded to the Big House where 
the Blue Birds and Bobolinks were awaiting 
him. As he drew near, Miss Selina remarked: 

"He’s smiling as if he had something funny 
to tell us.” 

But he said nothing, and all the coaxing and 


1 96 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

urging to tell what had occurred at Happy Hills 
to amuse him availed nothing. 

While Uncle Ben was training the Blue Birds 
and Bobolinks to do their part in the circus all 
unknown to Miss Martin, the latter was gradu- 
ally absorbing every inhabitant at Happy Hills 
camp into her company. Even Dinah and her 
assistants offered to do their share. That share 
consisted of baking pyramids of good cookies and 
ginger-snaps, and preparing lemonade, for a 
stand just beside the entrance to the arena. 

If the day was bright and clear, the circus 
would take place in the clearing where the fire- 
men exhibited their prowess. If it was rainy, it 
would have to be curtailed in many acts but could 
be given in part at the Refectory, called “Hippo- 
drome Hall” for the occasion. 

The morning dawned bright and cloudless to 
the great joy and relief of many worrying circus 
people. The benches were quickly placed at the 
upper side of the base-ball diamond, and several 
large canvases borrowed from a house-painter 
in the nearest town, were hung up as screens for 
the side-shows. 

The Fire-house was decorated with greens and 


THE CIRCUS AT HAPPY HILLS 197 

flags but the apparatus was pulled out and left 
to dazzle all eyes at one side of the building. The 
inside was to be used for other purposes. 

Uncle Ben had supervised his police and fire- 
men in erecting temporary pens behind the can- 
vas screens, and here his wild beasts were to be 
exhibited. Adjoining the pens were a number 
of large piano cases raised upon posts so that 
they were about eighteen inches from the ground. 
The front sides of these great boxes were gone 
but wooden laths made “bars to the cages.” On 
the top facing each box was painted the name 
of the wild thing within. 

The first case was to hold a fierce Numidian 
lion, said to be the only oiie ever caught and 
tamed at Happy Hills. Next to this was a red 
wolf — a man-eating wolf at that ! Then one was 
to see the wild man from Borneo with a great 
ring through his nose that he might be made to 
obey without danger to his keeper. 

Then there was to be an Albino girl, and a few 
savage Zulus with poisoned arrows to shoot at 
passers-by. There was a placard over one of 
the cages saying that the strange animal shown 
was the only one of its kind ever found, and 


1 98 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

being a native of the Valley of Delight, it was 
considered as very valuable. 

There were other curiosities to see in the side- 
shows, but the greatest interest centered about 
the animal cases. The boys who had helped build 
the cages told the other Little Citizens, and 
naturally it created much guessing and excite- 
ment. Would Mister Uncle Ben really have wild 
animals there? 

Maggie was in the secret, but so well did she 
keep it that no one even guessed she knew the 
truth about the plan. 

Inside the Fire-house, Uncle Ben and Ned and 
Jinks worked hard for several hours before circus 
time, then the door was shut and padlocked to 
keep out all curious sight-seers. 

At two-thirty sharp, the Happy Hills’ Brass 
Band struck up a patriotic air and the visitors 
and friends who had assembled to witness the 
show given by the Little Citizens, hurried to the 
circus grounds. 

The side-shows had to be visited first, as they 
would not be continued after the general per- 
formance began. The Fire-house was the first 
in the row so, not only visitors, but Little Citi- 


THE CIRCUS AT HAPPY HILLS 199 

zens as well, filed in to see what Uncle Ben had 
prepared for them. 

The side walls of the small building were cov- 
ered with Navajo blankets and other barbarous- 
colored draperies. Spears and weapons from 
Aunt Selina’s cozy-corner and oriental collection 
were gleaming dangerously from corners. 
Freshly cut hay was thrown on the floor to make 
a carpet of green, and upon this sat a group of 
Hopi Indians. Don and Dot Starr were young 
ones while Babs was a papoose strapped in a 
wicker basket and stood up in a corner. 

A tent was rigged up in one corner and before 
this a brave who strongly resembled Meredith, 
sat smoking a long peace pipe. But no one could 
see any smoke rising from the bowl or from the 
lips of the stolid Indian. He was in war-paint 
and wore all his trophies of scalps and wild 
beasts’ teeth or skulls, so he seemed savage in- 
deed. Two squaws, one beading a pair of moc- 
casins and another cooking over a camp-fire, were 
too industrious to look up at the curious visitors. 

“The squaw-cook what’s poking at the kettle 
without any fire burning under it, looks a heap 


200 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

like Miss Lavinia,” whispered Maggie, in a stage- 
tone. 

Everyone laughed and even the squaw had to 
turn away her face or ruin the effect of the whole 
Indian village scene. Dot and Don in streaked 
upper-bodies and gaudy skirts from the waist 
down, grinned pleasantly at their New York 
friends, and posed in a true twin-picture when 
Mr. Richards took a snap-shot of the Hopis. 

From the Fire-house the crowds went to the 
first case: a ferocious lion! Here the visitors 
saw an astonishing sight ! As the truth dawned 
upon them, the New Yorkers laughed heartily 
but said nothing that might keep away other 
curious visitors. 

A great lion-skin from Miss Selina’s library 
had been sewed together so that it appeared as 
real as when it was alive on the plains of Africa. 
Inside this skin, Ned had carefully placed him- 
self, and then Uncle Ben had sewn him up in 
the seam where the two sides of the skin met. 

The poor lion must have been frightfully hot 
inside that skin, and he had to pace up and down 
the limited cage-room on his hands and feet, for 


THE CIRCUS AT HAPPY HILLS 201 

it would never do to stand up on his hind-legs 
and try to get a breath of cool air ! 

As the sight-seers filed past the lion’s cage, 
the fierce animal pawed threateningly at the 
weak, wooden laths which was all that kept him 
from springing out at the people. 

Most of the circus-goers were already past 
when a strange howl came from the inside of 
that lion-skin : 

"Heigh, Uncle Ben! For pity’s sake rip me 
out of this — I'm smothering to pieces !” 

Some of the visitors were lingering to study 
the Wild Man from Borneo in the next cage and 
heard the freak lion that could talk, and every- 
one laughed uproariously. 

Jinks was the "Wild Man” and looked the part, 
too. Chains of corn and large lima-beans, with 
here and there a red kidney-bean, strung on 
strings were profusely hung about his neck. 
Wide armlets and anklets of tin were wound 
about his limbs and his hair, which was made of 
a close-fitted skull-cap with great bunches of 
hair taken from a mattress found in the attic of 
Aunt Selina’s house. His face was frightfully 
scarred with red crayon cuts where he had fought 


202 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


men and beasts and survived ; his single garment 
was a long strip of sheep’s skin wound about his 
waist. His body was dark red and shiny with 
oil, and his hands toyed dangerously with barbed 
arrows and a slender bow that now and then 
was aimed at his tormentors. Such actions were 
accompanied with wild grins that showed fierce 
orange-rind teeth fitted into the mouth of the 
man-eating human ! 

The red wolf looked so like Crummie that 
many of the Little Citizens were tempted to call 
it by name, and strange to say, the animal acted 
as if it knew that name! Overhead, however, 
the placard plainly stated that the red wolf ex- 
hibited was one of the dangerous kind found in 
the Valley of Delight. 

“No one kin fool me dat dat’s a wolf ! I knows 
Crummie if no one else does. Diden’ he save 
my life in de boat dat day of de picnic?” came 
from Prunel in no weak voice, and everyone 
laughed again at the poor red wolf. Thereupon 
the animal wagged its tail. 

A strange animal never known to Nature be- 
fore, was seen in a small case next to the wolf. 
It was green and red and white streaked, and 


THE CIRCUS AT HAPPY HILLS 203 

had a stub tail that was orange colored. The 
nose was snubbed and a fear-inspiring gleam of 
teeth projecting from an under-shot jaw would 
have made one's flesh creep had the beast been 
free. But everyone heaved sighs of relief to find 
Aunt Selina's old pet Bull dog safely chained in 
a cage. 

“Laws sake! Now how did this dreadful 
thing happen to poor old Billy. Ben! Ben! did 
you paint Billy like this?" cried Miss Selina 
when she saw her dog. 

“S-sh! don't spoil the side-shows!" warned a 
hissing voice behind her, and Flutey turned to 
see Mr. Richards' laughing face close to hers. 

“But how will we ever get Billy clean again ?" 
said she. 

“It's only colored grease paint such as movie 
people use — we'll drop him in boiling water and 
soon scald off the paint," laughed her tormentor. 

Meredith Starr was the strongest man on 
earth and was seen lifting great balls of iron 
and heavy bars of metal. The spheres he picked 
up as easily as if they were feathers were marked 
5,000 lbs. each, and were as large as a barrel. 


204 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“Mr. Richards, do tell me what he is lifting?” 
queried Aunt Selina. 

“Can't you see they are marked iron?” 

“Oh, but they aren’t really! They lock like 
hollow paper cubes bronzed over to look like 
rusty iron,” replied Flutey. 

“Maybe you’re right at that,” laughed Mr. 
Richards. 

The last side-show was a huge cage with a 
curtain hanging before its opening. On the cur- 
tain was a notice stating : 

“This is the smallest baby-elephant ever ex- 
hibited in a circus, and the visitor is requested 
not to feed it peanuts or crackers, as it does not 
yet know how to eat alone.” 

Whenever a large crowd gathered before this 
cage, one of the Police would make a great flour- 
ish of drawing back the curtain. Necks would 
crane and those visitors standing in the back 
could not see the elephant at all. But a loud 
shout of merriment would tell all that it was a 
good joke, so they waited till the others left when 
they could go closer and see the elephant. 

It was a little papier-mache toy-elephant such 
as are sold at Christmas time for the children’s 


THE CIRCUS AT HAPPY HILLS 205 

nursery. There it stood in the center of the 
great box and beside it was a great dish of water 
and a huge bundle of hay for food. 

The fake sideshows being over, the visitors 
began to fear their old tease, Mr. Talmage,. had 
played a joke upon them in bringing them so far 
to witness nothing at all. So they walked away 
from the cages wondering what would take place 
next; then a few of the Police directed them to 
the seats at one end of the diamond. 

“What next? Are you going to play a few 
more jokes on us?” demanded one of the visitors 
of a Policeman. 

“Naw — the reel circus is jus' goin’ to start! 
You see Miss Martin has charge of our show 
whiles Mister Uncle Ben agreed to provide side- 
shows and wild animals. Now he's done with 
his’n.” 

“Oh, I see,” said one visitor. 

“Thank goodness,” said another. 

But the majority of them laughed at the fun 
and said it was all part of the game as Barnum 
said: “An American public loves to be fooled.” 

Soon after the audience was seated on the 
hard wooden benches that reminded them of the 


20 6 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


real circus seats at a dollar a seat, Mr. Richards 
appeared in the sawdust ring to speak. He was 
immediately welcomed with shouts and claps and 
such a noise from his city friends that he could 
not be heard. 

When the tumult died down and he began 
to speak, the noise would begin anew, and finally 
he shook his head and stood waiting. The men 
in the audience finally grew tired of teasing him, 
however, and he had his say. 

It was to the effect that all the talent about to 
be seen and heard had been found and trained 
at Happy Hills inside of the past month. All 
allowance should be made for the handicaps met 
with in a country camp, but the patrons would 
find there was plenty of genuine talent in the 
different performers about to make their first 
appearance in public as entertainers. 


CHAPTER XIII 


the: sawdust ring 

The audience felt the usual circus thrill as 
they took their places on the narrow board seats ; 
the tent that always gives a twilight dimness to 
the inside of a circus arena was not in evidence, 
there being no canvas large enough to borrow 
for that purpose, but the ground was thickly 
sprinkled with sawdust for the performers’ circle. 

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” began Uncle Ben, 
as he walked to the center of the ring. “The 
first number on our programme will be the Great 
Circus Parade in which all members of the Side 
Shows and the regular circus will take part. The 
music is furnished by the Little Citizens’ Brass 
Band. Kindly refrain from making remarks dur- 
ing the exhibition.” 

The moment Uncle Ben concluded his short 
speech, Mr. Richards sprang up and said: “I 
surmise that we may make as many remarks as 

207 


208 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


we like before the exhibition, so I wish to know 
who elected you Master of Ceremonies ?” 

The audience laughed and some clapped their 
hands at the question asked Uncle Ben. But he 
was equal to it. 

“Not 'Master of Ceremonies/ my dear sir, but 
simply the 'Ring Master/ ” replied Uncle Ben, 
with a low bow. 

“Then I take objection to being made to sit 
here and see a Ring Master without the custom- 
ary long waxed mustachios and high silk hat — to 
say nothing of the lack of a swallow-tail coat and 
silver-handled whip !” 

Of course everyone knew it was all in fun, so 
they laughed because Uncle Ben had no retort 
ready. After a moment’s hesitation, however, 
he said: 

“I have been given authority to maintain or- 
der, and if I hear any further objections from, 
one who came to see this show on a complimen- 
tary ticket, I will forcibly expel him from the 
premises.” 

The threatening tones and the scowl on the 
Ring Master’s face caused a great chorus of 
laughter from the audience, and from those per- 


THE SAWDUST RING 


209 

formers who knew that Uncle Ben and his dear 
friend Mr. Richards were trying to get the best 
of each other in the fun-argument. 

But the blare of horns coming from back of 
the canvas curtain interrupted any further at- 
tacks, so the Ring Master retired to attend to the 
order of march. 

A drum-major led the band. He was dressed 
in a high bearskin hat with gold tassels draped 
in front of it. His blue uniform was also elabo- 
rately trimmed with tinsel and gold ornaments 
that reminded everyone of Christmas Tree trim- 
mings. In fact that is just what they were ! 

The Brass Band followed and blew its instru- 
ments so lustily that no attention was paid to 
time or notes. Noise, and plenty of it, was what 
every member was eager to accomplish. 

After the band, the freaks and wild animals 
followed, but the Numidian lion had thrown 
back its head-piece and the boy's hot face peep- 
ing out looked very strange as it surmounted the 
shaggy lion rug. 

After the Side Show members came the regu- 
lar circus performers — bareback riders, acrobats, 
pugilists, etcetera. 


2io THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


Every Little Citizen in camp wished to be in 
the Grand Parade and everyone had some odd bit 
of decoration to distinguish his or her connec- 
tion with so illustrious a company. 

Some, of the little girls had gathered great 
quantities of daisies and buttercups and other 
wild flowers, and had sewed them all over their 
camp dresses. Many of the little boys, too small 
to take part in the acting, were costumed in 
foliage-covered clothes or in fancy paper suits. 

The parade over, the troupe sought refuge 
back of the canvas curtain to await the call of 
each performer. The selected “pieces” of the 
Brass Band now took their seats in front of the 
canvas and showed the audience what a volume 
of sound six members of the band could send 
forth. 

“Our first number will be a clog dance. This 
is the public debut of our famous Little Citizen 
Dancer, so I wish all present to take particular 
notice of his accomplishment,” announced the 
Ring Master, who now appeared with the drum- 
major’s bearskin upon his head, and the drum- 
major’s tinsel-decorated baton for a stick. 

Uproarious applause followed the announce- 


THE SAWDUST RING 


21 I 


ment, but it was never known whether the clap- 
ping was for the hat and stick or for the debut 
of the clog-dancer. 

The visitors were sincerely interested in the 
dancing and felt gratified that one of the Little 
Citizens should have been found with such abil- 
ity — it became apparent that something might 
be made of the boy. 

Following the clog-dancer, came Maggie to 
sing her songs. Miss Martin had had the piano 
moved from the Refectory to the ring, and now 
played the accompaniment while the little girl 
sang her favorite songs taught her by the Settle- 
ment Worker of the East Side. 

As the pure tones of the “Prince of Peace,” 
then the inspired words and air of “Our Amer- 
ica” were heard, the audience showed more than 
ordinary interest. The little singer was encored 
again and again and she smiled happily as she 
stepped to the Ring again and sang her other 
favorites. The visitors whispered together at the 
wonderful genius discovered in their midst, and 
again Maggie was encored to sing yet one more 
song. This last one was “Love's Lullaby,” and 
was Maggie's solace in times of trouble. 


2i2 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


The applause given Maggie was a great en- 
couragement to the other performers, so the ora- 
tor of the camp, the elocutionist, and many other 
talented Little Citizens, found their efforts wel- 
comed by the audience. 

When the “Stars” had concluded their parts, 
Uncle Ben announced that the thrillers would 
take place. 

“Miss Goldie Silverheels will now show her 
superb bare-back riding,” said he, with a bow. 

Immediately after this introduction, Miss 
Goldie rode in on Farmer Jones’ young horse. 
The steed was gorgeous in his colored trappings, 
and Miss Goldie was in the seventh heaven of 
delight, for she had on a tarletan dress all be- 
flounced, and a wreath of flowers in her hair. 

The horse, Bob, moved sedately about the saw- 
dust ring, and it took some urging from, his rider 
to coax him into a gallop. 

The bareback rider was fearless and daring 
in her tricks and showed an unusual understand- 
ing of horses and the way to control them. 

“Do you know what that girl can become? A 
wonderful instructor in a Riding Academy,” re- 
marked one lady to another, as Miss Goldie rode 


THE SAWDUST RING 


213 

out of the ring with applause sounding acceptably 
in her ears. 

“Yes, but I should hate to have her become a 
circus actor, don’t you know,” replied the lady. 

“That’s just why she should be taken in hand 
at once, to train her for something worthy be- 
fore a third-rate circus troupe discovers her cour- 
age and ability.” 

“Make a note of it and refer the matter to Mr. 
Talmage,” advised the lady, and it was written 
down on a small pad. 

“We have a most remarkable treat in store, 
now, for our New York friends. You have never 
seen anything better at a dog show, nor at a 
Circus or Hippodrome,” called Uncle Ben. 

“This is Crummie, the dog-hero that saved 
one of our Little Citizens from drowning a short 
time ago,” he added. 

At mention of his name, Crummie ran out into 
the Ring. But what a different-looking Crum- 
mie from the dirty, matted- wool dog that won 
the medal for bravery the day of the picnic ! 

Uncle Ben had superintended the task of clip- 
ping him, so that he presented a distinctly aristo- 
cratic appearance. His main body had been 


214 THE blue birds at happy hills 


shaven, leaving tawny patches of wool on ankles, 
neck and head. The tail, too, had a thick bunch 
of wool on its end and a ring of wool about the 
base. The long hair on his forehead was tied in 
a knot with a fancy ribbon. 

“Crummie, salute the ladies !” said Uncle Ben. 

The dog faced the audience and bowed politely 
to them. A general laugh rewarded him. Then 
Uncle Ben said: 

“Now, Crummie, call for your master to take 
charge.” 

The dog turned and looked at the Band and 
barked again and again, but no result followed. 

“Crummie, go over and escort your master to 
the Ring.” 

Then the dog ran directly to Bill and pulled at 
his feet. Bill laughingly arose, and the dog im- 
mediately took hold of his hand with his teeth 
and led him out. This brought a loud clapping 
from the visitors. 

Then Bill put Crummie through his letter-writ- 
ing trick, through his prayers, his dancing on 
hind legs, his lately acquired trick of playing 
fireman (taught him by the Fire Brigade) and 
the other things he could do. The audience thor- 


THE SAWDUST RING 


215 


oughly appreciated it all and thought the per- 
formance was over when they saw Crummie run 
back of the curtain. 

But he soon returned rolling a small drum 
before him. He left it just before his master and 
ran away again. This time he returned with the 
two drum sticks in his mouth. He held them 
until Bill took them from him, and Uncle Ben 
said: 

“Crummie has just joined the Brass Band and 
has only been taking lessons in playing the drum 
for a week. If he does not keep good time, or 
hold the sticks according to the book, you must 
overlook the fact.” 

Bill placed a drum-stick in the dog’s mouth and 
Crummie sat upon his haunches before the drum 
and began to rat-tat rat-tat-tat! rat-tat, rat-tat- 
tat ! r-r-r-at-tat-tat ! r-r-r-tat-tat ! Er-r-r-r-r-rat ! 
er-r-r-r-r-tat ! er-r-r-r-r-rat-tattat-tattoo. 

This syncopated playing he kept up until Bill 
laughingly clapped his hands, then Crummie 
dropped the stick and pranced about his master, 
showing how thoroughly he enjoyed music. The 
clapping was prolonged until the audience found 


21 6 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

Crummie had still another form of music to ren- 
der for them. 

This time, Bill attached the cymbal to Crum- 
mie’s tail and tied a small hammer to one paw. 
The other paw had a string tied to it, and this 
string pulled a lever that sounded a whistle. Then 
the dog was given the drum-stick again, and the 
signal for music was sounded by his master. 

This time, Crummie thumped the cymbals with 
his tail, while striking the glass-cylinders with 
the hammer fastened on his left paw. The string 
was jerked irregularly to sound the whistle, but 
the drum fared badly, as the dog was so intent 
on the other three instruments that he forgot to 
beat with the stick held between his teeth, except 
at rare intervals. But the sagacity shown by the 
animal won tremendous applause from the au- 
dience, so that both master and dog felt amply 
repaid for the tedious hours of practice. 

“Now we have a scene between two Roman 
Gladiators in the open arena. This will end our 
performance, but the guests are all invited to the 
Refectory, where the Little Citizens wish to serve 
refreshments to them.” 

After some arguing back of the canvas curtain, 


THE SAWDUST RING 217 

the visitors were amused to see a Roman chariot 
appear. Bob and Dobbin were hitched tandem to 
a two-wheeled dump-cart. But the cart had been 
white-washed — wheels and body, and festooned 
with wild flowers until it presented a gala ap- 
pearance. The two horses balked at pulling the 
familiar cart a la tandem and Bob wished to pre- 
cede Dobbin, and the latter wished to stop to in- 
vestigate a sweet-smelling bunch of clover right 
in his pathway to glory. 

Therefore, the two Gladiators who stood in the 
cart endeavoring to coax their steeds to more 
speed, felt abashed at the laughter accorded their 
entrance into the arena. 

But once the imperfectly-matched horses had 
drawn the cart to its goal, the two athletic-look- 
ing boys jumped lightly out and posed in atti- 
tudes approved in boxing rings. 

This last number was wildly applauded by the 
men present, but the ladies said they could see 
nothing entertaining in boxing! The bout being 
ended, the two contestants shook hands and 
looked about for the chariot which was to carry 
them back to the dressing room. The attention 


2 1 8 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


of all present was thus attracted to the cart and 
horses, and a general laugh echoed over the field. 

Dobbin being unaccustomed to the wreaths of 
wild clover blossoms and daisies hung about his 
neck and farm-harness, had managed to pull part 
of his decoration around to one side and stood 
calmly chewing it up. Bob on the other hand, had 
so resented being hitched to an old-fashioned nag 
as Dobbin was that he had twisted and backed 
and pulled until the not-too-secure tandem-har- 
ness hastily contrived of rope and bits of strap, 
broke and left him to gambol away to the fresh 
green grass growing on the banks of the brook. 

So the exit of the Romans was made on their 
own pedals and Farmer Jones was sent to capture 
his two steeds and cart. 


CHAPTER XIV 


TH£ CITY HOME) PLAN 

At the Refectory the guests were treated to 
cakes and lemonade and were waited upon by the 
Little Citizens who had been taught to wait on 
each other properly, or when visitors were pres- 
ent to attend to their needs first. 

Everyone was talking about the success of the 
circus, and but few remembered the Side Shows 
that had given Uncle Ben so much trouble to 
arrange. It was the unusual talents shown by 
the young performers that caused most of the 
comments. 

“Now you can see why I had you come to 
Happy Hills, ,, said Uncle Ben, as he heard the 
city friends exchanging their views. 

“Yes, but what further good can we do than 
hope for the future of each of these children?” 
asked one of the men. 

“Now that you have heard and seen for your- 
selves, instead of being told by others of the bud- 

219 


220 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


ding genuises to be found in our Little Citizens, 
I have a plan to propose. It is something that 
will need immediate decision if Richards is to go 
ahead with the scheme and have things ready 
for September occupancy. 

“This is the plan I wish to lay before you all 
today : 

“We expect a number of new arrivals at camp 
next week, and no one knows what talent may 
be hidden in the heart of each one of those Lit- 
tle Citizens. We have already found valuable 
material to work upon here, and it must be edu- 
cated and taken care of — we must not permit it 
to die for lack of nourishment — mental and mor- 
al, you know. 

“I have discussed this plan with Miss Selina, 
Miss Martin, and Mr. Richards, and they agree 
with me that it is not only feasible, but necessary, 
if we are to keep up the ambition and education 
of these talented children. 

“Mr. Richards has agreed to hunt up a large 
house in New York at a moderate rental — one 
that we can remodel to suit ourselves, thereby 
being able to have a long lease at a reduced rent. 
We have even thought of the name of such a 


THE CITY HOME PLAN 


221 


home. How do you like 'Blue Bird Home for 
Little Wonders' or just the 'Blue Bird and Bobo- 
link Home,' or perhaps some of you would prefer 
the name of 'Little Citizens' Home'?" 

"Mr. Talmage, I think the name is the last 
consideration to worry over. Let us first de- 
cide whether there is to be a home," called out 
one of the gentlemen visitors. 

"Oh, there will be a home, all right, even if a 
few of us have to support it," declared Mr. Rich- 
ards, positively. 

"After hearing and seeing our gifted Little 
Citizens we all think the same as Mr. Richards — 
there must be some form of home provided until 
the children are self-supporting," added a lady. 

"The thing to decide upon is, how many of 
you will join in this endeavor and enlist others 
to help support the home. Miss Selina has prom- 
ised to close up this country place for the winter 
and take up her residence at the Home. Miss 
Martin, who is a most valuable and experienced 
Settlement Worker and Nature teacher, has also 
agreed to help Flutey look after the house and 
children. I, too, will agree to take up a permanent 
residence at the place to be on hand during the 


222 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


evenings and holidays to advise and help in any 
way I can. There will be other friends who will 
eagerly offer their time and help also, I am sure. 
The sum of money we may have to use for this 
venture will determine the size of the house we 
can secure and pay for.” 

“You will need a regular asylum to house all 
these Little Citizens, and those extra ones you 
still expect from the city,” remarked a pessimistic 
man. 

“Oh, it isn’t at all likely that everyone here 
this summer will take up a residence in the city 
home. In fact, the invitation is only open to 
those who can prove themselves efficient in some 
manner of work or study. Not that we shall dis- 
criminate between trades or professions — we 
shall not — but in order to be an inmate of our 
home a Little Citizen must prove that he is steady, 
ambitious, moral, and obedient to rules, before he 
can become a member in our family. 

“We will not consider the application of anyone 
who is resentful or malicious in thought, or dis- 
obedient in purpose as well as in deed. Anyone 
who will willingly mislead a companion to disre- 
gard rules and regulations cannot be accepted, 


THE CITY HOME PLAN 223 

as one child can upset a whole colony in a little 
time.” 

“Well, Mr. Talmage, you seem to have decided 
upon having such a home and it only remains for 
us to join the number who have already agreed 
to experiment with the idea for the future wel- 
fare of our little ‘Jenny Lind/ the budding 
‘Thomas Edison/ the great band leader 
‘Sousa/ and a few other famous people or their 
young namesakes,” said one of the Committee 
chosen for the Easter Outing that spring. 

“That's about it,” acknowledged Uncle Ben. 

“Then count on me — or count on my check 
which is more to the point,” laughed the man. 

“There now — Richards, hand Sam the agree- 
ment to sign at once before he changes his mind. 
Sam you can mention the size of the check you 
will donate after you sign your name. You will 
find several names already signed,” said Uncle 
Ben, passing the long legal paper to Mr. Rich- 
ards to hand over to the man. 

The first visitor to join the new organization 
read the paper handed him and then stood up. 

“I think I will read aloud the names of the 
members who have already joined and donated to 


224 the blue birds at happy hills 

this Winter Home — it may inspire others to ‘go 


and do likewise/ 

“ ‘The Blue Bird Society of Oakdale’ — collectively $500 

Each individually 10 

“ ‘The Bobolink Society of Oakdale’ each indi- 
vidually 10 

“ ‘The Bobolink Publishing Society’ 5 00 

“Mr. Benj. Talmage, each month for Home dona- 
tion 100 

“Mr. Benj. Talmage, for starting Home and fur- 
nishing 1,000 

“Mr. F. H. Richards 500 

“Miss Selina Talmage, monthly for expense ac- 
count 500 

“Miss Selina Talmage, to start fund of Home 5, 000 

“Miss Martin, each month during life of the Home 50 

“Mr. and Mrs. Starr of Oakdale — monthly 100 

“Mr. and Mrs. Talmage of Oakdale, monthly. ... 100 

“Mrs. Catlin of Oakdale, for starting fund 500 

“Mrs. Catlin of Oakdale, monthly for expenses. . 100 

“Parents of Blue Birds and Bobolinks collectively. 1,000 


“So you see, my friends, we already have a 
goodly sum to add our mites to. Mr. Talmage, 
I will agree to start with a thousand dollars, 
and pay a monthly sum of a hundred dollars. If 
you find yourselves in need of financial support 
let me know and I will pull you out to a certain 
extent.” 


THE CITY HOME PLAN 


225 

The Blue Birds and Bobolinks had been most 
interested listeners to the discussion which would 
mean a successful launching of the city home for 
their Little Citizens, and when the last speaker 
concluded and had agreed to donate so liberally, 
Ned sprang up and shouted: 

“Three cheers for the Home for Little Won- 
ders!” 

And the rousing cheer that replied to his call 
showed everyone that the interest was genuine 
and not for display purposes as is the case in so 
many charitable gifts that are made. 

The agreement to donate passed through every 
hand of the visitors present and when it was re- 
turned to Uncle Ben, it was filled with names. 
The grand total was more than enough to assure 
success to the venture for the first year at any 
rate. 

As the result of the visit and circus enter- 
tainment was made known to all, the Little Citi- 
zens looked dumb with surprise. Such a lot of 
money as these people agreed to spend just to give 
them a good winter home ! 

Then Bill jumped upon his feet — he had been 


226 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


kneeling in a corner of the Refectory listening 
with all his might. 

“Say, you kids, wassa matter wid cheerin' 
Uncle Ben and all his fren’s — not a sickly cheer 
but a good healthy one !” 

“Nuttin’s de matter wid dat! Hey all! Git 
ready now! One-two-t’ree !” yelled Joe, and he 
swung his old cap as he counted. 

“Hip! Hip! Hurrah! fer everybuddy here!” 
shouted every lusty youngster present, and the 
din spoke well for their health. 

“Heigh — once more — whad’s de matter wid 
Uncle Ben?” called Bill, excitedly. 

“He’s all right! Hip! Hip! Hurrah fer all!” 

Then Bill seemed to remember an important 
matter. 

“Mister Uncle Ben, please kin I say some- 
thin’?” 

“Certainly Bill — speak.” 

'‘What kin we do to help a poor dog what is a 
genius?” 

Everyone laughed at the question, but Bill 
took no offence as he was too concerned about 
finding a home for Crummie, where the canine 
intelligence might be expanded. 


THE CITY HOME PLAN 


227 


“Why, it stands to reason that if you prove 
yourself efficient enough to join our home this 
winter, Crummie will be most valuable in helping 
Miss Selina to keep away tramps and those who 
have no business about our house. At odd times 
the dog can practice his own profession and re- 
port to you at night.” 

Bill grinned joyfully and Crummie, who had 
been crouching beside him, thumped his tail upon 
the floor in satisfaction. 

The time was at hand when all the automobiles 
were summoned to carry the visitors back to New 
York, and soon after the last whirr of wheels 
was heard going down the driveway, the Little 
Citizens scattered to their evening tasks. Some 
to see that the precious Fire-engine was safely 
housed again, some to Police the community 
where laxity had prevailed all day and Little Citi- 
zens had broken the strict laws laid down by the 
Chief of Police; but the majority of the children 
were too tired and sleepy to think of anything 
but a cup of milk and a piece of bread and but- 
ter, before tumbling into their Nests for the 
night. 

At Flutey’s house, the Blue Birds and Bobo- 


228 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


links were too excited to think of supper or bed. 
The sum total of the donations signed up that 
afternoon amounted in their opinions to such an 
enormous lot of money that they thought it pos- 
sible to buy outright a big ready-made Home 
somewhere in the city. 

“You country children do not understand the 
value of city real estate. Why all of Mossy Glen 
and Oak Crest together would not sell for enough 
cash to pay for one dirty old tenement on the 
East Side. So you can understand that the sum 
which has been promised us will not seem so much 
after a few months' rent is paid in advance. Be- 
sides we must have good plumbing and ventila- 
tion, and repairs cost money, too." 

“Then don't choose an old house — get a brand 
new one," suggested Dot Starr. 

“But a new one will cost a great deal more to 
start with, and every month besides. We can 
lease an old one and renovate it to suit ourselves, 
with lots of little rooms for chambers and great 
big assembly rooms on the first floor, and the 
rent will be but half as much as if the owner 
makes repairs," explained Mr. Richards. 

“I don't see why the Starr family has to stay 


THE CITY HOME PLAN 


229 


in Oakdale all winter. Other folks go to live in 
the city when it’s cold — why can’t we ?” grumbled 
Don, who would have preferred living with the 
Little Citizens wherever they were to be located. 

“If the Talmages and Starrs moved to New 
York this winter where could I take the Little 
Citizens every Saturday for the weekly outing ?” 
asked Uncle Ben. 

Don had not thought of this, and he brightened 
up instantly. Then Dot thought of something. 

“Besides, if we all went to live in the city how 
would the magazine ever get published? And 
without a magazine you would have no way to 
pay that donation.” 

“It seems to me, that everything is arranged 
wisely and well, so there is no need for Blue Birds 
or Bobolinks to wish they were in other birds’ 
nests,” added Flutey. 


CHAPTER XV 


MISS martin’s ElTTEE STORIES OP GREAT 
PEOPLE 

The Blue Birds and Bobolinks had only a few 
days more to stay at Happy Hills, and they all 
wanted to make the most of them. They were at 
camp from early morning till late at night, and 
in that time they became better acquainted with 
the lives and hopes of their Little Citizens than 
years of casual visits would have accomplished. 

Miss Martin had formed a daily story-telling 
class for anyone who wished to sit and listen. 
But she was most determined about interrup- 
tions. If you wanted to hear the story you were 
welcome, but you must not scuffle across the Re- 
fectory floor when the tale was half finished, and 
once you came quietly in to listen, you must re- 
main till the end ! 

So it became a custom for many of the Little 
Citizens to so manage their play and work that 
they might have the noon hour to spare for the 
story-telling. 

230 


MISS MARTIN’S LITTLE STORIES 231 

The day after the circus, Miss Martin pleased 
her hearers by saying: 

“The theme of the story today, friends, is 
about some famous people. But they will be 
such short stories that it will be necessary for 
each one to look up the longer story and history 
of my heroes and heroines in the large book here 
on this table. I will leave it for Jinks or Ned to 
read from if anyone wishes to hear the full ac- 
count of the famous ones I shall mention. 

“My first story will be of a poor little peas- 
ant boy who became a great poet. 

“It was a cold night in winter, and in the old- 
time kitchen of an English abbey, a number of 
servants were seated about a blazing fire. 

“Now an abbey is a place built to shelter and 
protect the people who need sanctuary in times 
of strife or war. And in olden times the people 
needed such refuges as there was constant war- 
ring and fighting with lawless men. 

“So this abbey, half-house and half-church, had 
a number of servants to keep it in order. These 
men now sat resting after the day’s work was 
done, talking or singing songs as the wind whis- 
tled out-of-doors. 


2 3 z THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“ Whose turn is it now ?’ asked the head-serv- 
ant. 

“And so they took turns in singing- their fa- 
vorite songs until the cow-herd saw it would soon 
be his turn to sing. He thought he could not sing 
a note and he dreaded being jeered at by his com- 
panions, so he crept quietly away and hid in with 
the cows in the straw in the stable. Here he re- 
mained waiting for the men to retire and forget 
about him. 

“Then, suddenly, he seemed to fall into a deep 
sleep, and a glorious figure appeared before him. 
The humble fellow thought it was an angel, and 
when she spoke in stern yet loving tones, he 
trembled and wanted to run away. 

“ ‘Sing,’ said she. 

“The cow-herd gazed pitifully up at her, but 
could not open his mouth to utter a sound. He 
was as mute as when he feared his companions 
in the kitchen. 

“ ‘Sing of God and his Creation V continued 
the angel. 

“Then the frightened lad tried to make a sound 
and to his astonishment he sang several pure 
notes, so he continued. As he sang of the Spirit- 


MISS MARTIN’S LITTLE STORIES 233 

ual Creation which was made so perfect and eter- 
nal by the Father of All, the kine turned their 
heads and listened. When the farmer-boy had 
overcome his shyness in singing such wonderful 
truths, the angel disappeared but the singer knew 
it not. He was now so uplifted by his singing 
that he even failed to hear the men who came 
running from the kitchen to see who the great 
singer could be. 

“Fancy their amazement when they found their 
humble 'cow-herder singing in the stable. Then 
they waited, breathless, till he had concluded, and 
led him back to the house. There he was made 
to sing for the mistress and other women who 
took charge of the abbey. 

“They, too, listened in hushed surprise and as 
the inspiring lines poured forth, they bowed their 
heads in reverence, for they knew that the Lord 
had given the lowly shepherd the gift with which 
to voice His praise. 

“And so this cow-herd, whose name was Caed- 
mon, became a great singer and poet of England.” 

Miss Martin concluded the first story and 
Maggie was greatly pleased, as she took the story 
to herself, but some of the boys who were be- 


234 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

ginning to show a gift in singing, also felt that 
the story was told for their benefit. 

“Now Pm going to tell you how a very humble 
man became rich and famous. He was poorer 
than any of you Little Citizens could ever be, for 
he was a slave. He was the property of another 
man and even though he worked very hard, he 
could never have anything of his own while he 
was a slave. 

“But one day, his master found he would have 
to sell his slaves, so he had them all go to a 
slave-market in a distant city. 

“Each slave had to carry a load of goods, as 
the master expected to sell many of his valuable 
poss-essions at the same time that he accompanied 
the slaves. 

“In those days there were no carriages or 
beasts to ride and carry baggage, for the slaves 
were expected to do this labor. Great bundles 
were made up so that each slave might have a 
goodly-sized load. These were waiting for them 
to shoulder when the procession came from the 
house. 

“The young slave who was a deep thinker, had 
pondered over the various pieces of baggage, 


MISS MARTIN'S LITTLE STORIES 235 

and thus had discovered which one held the food 
for the three days' journey for the entire party. 

“This great package, y£sop chose for his bur- 
den. The other slaves laughed at his foolish se- 
lection for their own burdens were smaller and 
lighter. But the young slave said nothing. He 
started away with his load, and the others fol- 
lowed him, jeering. The master rode last and 
also wondered why the best young slave he had 
should choose so cumbersome a load. 

“They had started out at daybreak and after 
travelling several hours, stopped by a well for the 
morning meal. ^Esop opened his baggage and 
spread out the rations for breakfast. All ate, and 
the slave again shouldered his load, but it was a 
bit lighter. 

“At noon they stopped and ate again, and the 
load was then much smaller and still lighter. 
That night, the entire party ate supper, and the 
burden grew still lighter and much smaller. 

“The three meals the following day more than 
lessened half the burden ^Esop carried, and be- 
fore the travellers reached the city, hot, weary, 
and exhausted from carrying such loads so far, 


236 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

^Esop had nothing to carry as the food was eaten 
and the load was gone. 

“The master was so impressed at this wisdom 
shown by the slave that he told the story to the 
men in the city. They said that vEsop was a wise 
man and must bring a goodly sum to his owner. 

“A very rich man heard the story when he 
came to the slave-market to select a servant, and 
he determined to secure .ZEsop, so he bid high 
and purchased him. 

“Xanthus, the new master, took ^Esop to Sa- 
mos, his home, and there the slave became known 
everywhere for his wisdom and judgment. He 
always had a fable to apply to any need or cause, 
so that he was sought by rich and poor alike for 
advice and help. 

“Finally, Xanthus gave ^Esop his freedom and 
the man who once had been a slave with no rights 
to own anything — not even himself — became fa- 
mous and was sought by kings and statesmen for 
his wisdom.” 

As this story was ended, one of the boys shout- 
ed, “That's what Tm goin’ to be — a wise judge !” 

“To be a wise judge, you must first learn to 
think and do only right and just things yourself ; 


MISS MARTIN’S LITTLE STORIES 237 

then you can find the wisdom to judge others'/' 
replied Miss Martin. 

“That's what I'm goin' to do, Miss Marting," 
promised the eager lad. 

“Now another short story that I will tell you, 
is about always speaking the truth. Truth is a 
great power in the world, and we may sometimes 
think we have been wrong to adhere strictly to the 
truth, but in the end we find we have gained in 
everything. 

“A great Persian king named Cyrus sent his 
son to a far city to study in a famous school that 
he might be ready to reign over Persia at the 
King's death. 

“Otanes had always been taught the great value 
of truth, and as he stood ready to depart from his 
home with the company of men who were to see 
that he arrived safely, his parents again remind- 
ed him to always adhere to truth and he would 
lose nothing! 

“The caravan had travelled all day and halted 
at sun-down for rest when a band of outlaws rode 
from ambush and demanded all that the travel- 
lers possessed. There was no use in resisting so 
large a company of thieves, so the merchants 


238 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

gave up their property. One of the rascals spied 
Otanes who was silently watching the proceed- 
ings, so he called to the boy : 

“ 'Have you anything to give me?’ 

“ T have gold,” replied the lad. 

“ 'Gold ! How much and where do you carry 
it?’ 

“ ‘In my hat, and it is enough to pay my way/ 

“ ‘Ha, ha, ha ! That's a good joke,' laughed the 
man as he passed by. 

“Then the Chief of the band rode up to the boy, 
and said: ‘Well, I don't suppose you carry any- 
thing of value — you are too young to be trusted 
with gold.' 

“Otanes said nothing to this as it required no 
answer, but when the Chief looked at the silent 
boy, and said again : 

“ ‘But have you anything of value about your 
person? What do you happen to have?' 

“ ‘I have gold for my journey and education.' 

“ ‘Gold! Why, you’re a mere boy! Where do 
you hide it?' 

“ ‘In my hat.' 

“ ‘Let me see,' ordered the robber 

“Otanes removed his hat and displayed the 


MISS MARTIN’S LITTLE STORIES 239 

gold. The Chief stood in surprise for a moment, 
and then said : 

“ ‘Why did you tell us you had it — we would 
never have dreamed that you had gold hidden on 
your person ?’ 

“ 'Did you not ask me?’ wondered Otanes. 

“ ‘Yes, but you could have denied it, you see.’ 

“ 'That would have been an untruth, and I am 
not a coward that I must lie to any man !’ replied 
Otanes, proudly. 

"The Chief was so impressed with the lad’s 
words that he gave back his gold and said : 'May 
you always live up to that ideal/ 

"And Otanes did, for he became one of the 
great and famous men of his day.” 

There was silence as Miss Martin concluded 
this tale, then one of the boys said: "Maybe 
Otanes wouldn’t have been so honest about giv- 
ing up dat money if it was all he had; but he 
knew he could git more from his fadder when he 
got to de city.” 

"I am quite sure Otanes would have acted ex- 
actly the same whether he were a newsboy in 
New York or the king’s son in Persia. Besides, 
he could not send back home for more money from 


240 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

his father, as it took a long time to cross the 
desert and it might be months, or a year, before 
another caravan would reach his father and be 
able to bring back money for the boy. So that 
was not the reason of his telling the truth, you 
see,” replied Miss Martin. 

“Miss Marting, won’t you please tell us some- 
thin’ about children what made pickshers an’ grew 
into fine painters !” asked one of the children, and 
little Nelly Finn smiled with anticipation. 

“I told you about the great Raphael in my 
last talk and also about the slave who watched 
his master and thus educated himself to become 
even greater than his teacher. Now I will tell 
you about a simple shepherd lad who used to 
make pictures on the rocks and pieces of bark, 
with a burnt stick for crayon. 

“He was working with such interest one day 
that he failed to see a man approach him. The 
stranger watched the work for a time and was so 
amazed at the talent shown that he touched the 
boy on the shoulder. 

“The lad sprang up and courtesied, then the 
man said : 'Who taught you to draw like that ?’ 

“ 'Myself, master.’ 


MISS MARTIN’S LITTLE STORIES 241 

“ ‘Who are you, and whose sheep are those?’ 

“ ‘My name is Giotto and I am the shepherd 
boy to a rich man who lives near here,’ replied 
the boy. 

“ ‘Would you like to know how to paint pictures 
of other things as well as of trees and sheep?’ 

“Giotto’s joy was answer enough, so the man 
called upon the owner of the sheep and told him 
what a great painter he thought the lad would 
make. Then he also went to the humble home of 
the shepherd-boy and asked the father to let him 
take his son to be educated. 

“The stranger turned out to be Cimabue, the 
greatest painter of his day, and Giotto accom- 
panied him to Florence where he was taught to 
paint wonderful pictures. In fact, Giotto be- 
came even a greater painter than his master, and 
the simple shepherd lad was the friend of many 
great men at that time.” 

Nelly expressed her satisfaction at the story, 
and the other Little Citizens who liked to draw, 
also clapped their hands. Then Miss Martin 
stood up and the children sighed for they did not 
want her to end her stories so soon. 

“Ah, tell us somethin’ ’bout our own American 


242 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

people, Miss Marting!” begged one of the boys. 

“Yeh, Miss Martin! Tell us about Thomas 
Edison, and Mister Colonel Roosevelt, and Mc- 
Kinley, and other famous men of now!” added 
many voices. 

Miss Martin laughed, as she replied: “Why 
you children know as much about our present- 
day heroes and great men as I do, but perhaps you 
do not know about Robert Fulton, or the poets 
and painters of recent years in America.” 

“No, no — tell us !” quickly demanded a chorus 
of voices. 

“Well, Robert Fulton was a little country boy 
who loved to fish and swim and paddle about the 
creeks just like any other little boy does in sum- 
mer-time. 

“One day he and his chum, were fishing but the 
boat was heavy and lumbering, and had to be 
pushed about by means of a long pole. It was 
slow work and as Bob was trying to reach a spot 
in the stream where the fish might bite better, 
he grumbled at the arduous task of moving the 
tub. 

“ 'Why don’t we use a row-boat the next time ?’ 
asked his friend. 


MISS MARTIN’S LITTLE STORIES 243 

“ ‘Even rowing is hard work, and there ought 
to be an easy way for boys to push their boats 
about,” said Robert. 

“So the next day Bob called his friend and to- 
gether they went to the wood-shed to make some- 
thing Robert had thought out the night before as 
he lay in bed. 

“ ‘What is it, anyway?” asked his chum. 

“ ‘You’ll see — it’s something to move our boat 
about without much work.’ 

“After a great deal of sawing and hammering, 
the two boys came from the wood-shed with two 
cumbersome looking things that looked like small 
fans on an old wind-mill. 

“ ‘What’s that you’ve got, Bob ?’ called a boy 
in passing the lads. 

“ ‘Oh, we’ve got a scheme to make a boat go 
without working !’ replied Bob. 

“The older boy laughed and passed on his way, 
but the two friends hurried to their scow with 
the heavy paddle-wheels and managed to fasten 
them, one on each side of the boat. An old rod 
reached across the boat from one wheel to the 
other, and when all was ready, the boys jumped in. 

“Bob Fulton sat on the seat and took hold of 


244 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

the iron bar. This he turned like one would turn 
the crank on a well-handle. In revolving-, this 
bar turned the paddles around in the water and 
the propelling moved the boat through the water. 

“The boys were so delighted at the success of 
the plan that they did nothing else all day but 
ride up and down the stream. 

“That night the boys told of ^ their invention 
and fun, and Bob was praised for his work. Then 
he thought of the value such an idea might have 
for others, and he worked and planned until he 
finally evolved the side-wheel boats. Later, he 
invented the way to propel boats by steam instead 
of horse-power in turning the wheels. 

“From this small beginning, we have today the 
great ocean steamers and other craft that sail 
our seas.” 

“Dat’s a fine story, Miss Martin. Tell us anud- 
der like it,” said the children. 

“You Little Citizens are always hungry for 
more,” laughed the story-teller. 

“Well, yeh see, Miss Marting, a feller can’t 
never get enough of truth, kin he?” remarked a 
young wonder. 

Miss Martin was so struck by the logic of this 


MISS MARTIN’S LITTLE STORIES 245 

reply that she sat down and looked at the little 
speaker in amazement. Then she said: “For 
that remarkable sentence, Jimmy, I will tell you a 
true story of King Solomon, the wisest judge and 
man of words that ever lived. 

“Of course you have heard me speak of the 
Queen of Sheba and how she tried to catch Solo- 
mon in many ways but failed ! 

“One day she brought in two garlands of flow- 
ers exactly alike. One could not tell one from the 
other, so alike were they. 

“ ‘Oh, King, I have here two garlands of flow- 
ers for you to see and tell me which is the real and 
which the false,” said the Queen, after the cere- 
mony of presentation was over. 

“As Solomon gazed at the lovely flowers he 
was at a loss to say which was Nature’s result 
and which the one made by the cunning of man. 

“Then he looked from the window to think how 
he might detect the false wreath. As he did so, 
he saw some bees buzzing in and out of the blos- 
soms hanging from a vine over the window case- 
ment. This gave him the idea he needed. 

“He ordered a slave to open wide the window, 
and it was done. Soon after, a bee flew in and 


2 46 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 


circled about for a moment, but scenting- the sweet 
flowers, made straight for the wreath in the 
Queen's left hand. Another bee followed almost 
immediately after and settled upon the honey- 
laden blossoms. Other bees flew in and began sip- 
ping the nectar from the cups of the flowers and 
Solomon said: ‘You have your answer, O 
Queen !' ” 


CHAPTER XVI 


the End oe a happy summer 

“Say Micky, dis is some trip from Noo York to 
Happy Hills, ain't it?" remarked Skelly, as he 
fidgeted in the seat. 

“It's cuz yeh are so anxious to git there. Now 
I'm a lookin’ out the winder at all the trees and 
little houses we pass an’ I ain’t so tired wid de 
ride," replied Micky. 

“Mick, do yeh really t’ink dey kin make a real 
artist of Nelly? Why, she’s on’y a kid," said 
Skelly to whom it seemed impossible that quiet 
and meekness should have any power hidden 
under its cloak. 

“Dat’s what Mister Uncle Ben tol’ me last week 
in his office, yeh know." 

“Why ain’t you or me got some such talent in 
our heads ?’’ persisted Skelly, complainingly. 

“Maybe we have, but we are so chuck full of 
work and fight that the quiet t’ings ain’t got time 

to sift out, yeh see. Ef we was to settle down 
247 


248 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

quiet-like for a week at Happy Hills mebbe some- 
thin’ would show up fer us, too.” 

“Well, t’ank goodness we got a ticket to take a 
vacation anyway! I hope to goodness, dey don’t 
make you sing church hymns and pray every 
udder minute of de day!” muttered Skelly. 

“Don’tche go an’ spoil everyt’ing at camp wid 
your kickin’, Skelly! Ef you don’t like de way 
t’ings are run yeh kin always go back to de city, 
yeh know. It ain’t costin’ yuh nuttin’,” advised 
Micky, with anxious concern. 

“Oh, I’ll try and stick it out fer a week, as long 
as you t’ink you’ll stay too.” 

When the station was called out where the two 
boys had to leave the train, they looked eagerly 
about at the lovely scene. Green grass, green 
trees, green bushes everywhere and no sign up: 
“Keep Off, Private Grounds” — or familiar 
boards such as they knew of in the city parks 
which read : “Keep off the Grass” — “Don’t pick 
flowers.” 

“Gee, Micky ! Even de sky looks green wid de 
udder green t’ings a-shinin’,” breathed Skelly, 
softly. 

A lark suddenly began his lay and the two boys 


THE END OF A HAPPY SUMMER 249 

looked at each other, then about them for the 
songster. 

“Dis is somethin’ like, eh, Skelly?” chuckled 
Micky. 

“Bet’cher life, pard! Come on, le’s hurry to 
camp an’ see what it’s like. Ef it’s anything like 
dis, I kin stand a week of it/ replied delighted 
Skelly. 

Before either boy could see which country road 
to take, a touring car sped up and Uncle Ben 
hailed the travellers. 

“Oh, there you are, my boys! I was delayed 
down the road by a blow-out or I would have been 
here when the train pulled in.” 

The boys grinned and looked at each other. 
Were they going to ride in that swell car? 

“Jump in now, and we’ll soon be whisked back 
to Happy Hills where your friends are waiting to 
greet you.” 

So the two over-worked little newsboys scram- 
bled in and dropped upon the soft leather cushions 
with a sigh. 

“Hully gee! Dis is de life, all right, Mister 
Uncle Ben,” gurgled Micky. 

“While we are passing this lovely country-side 


250 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

you can look about and see what an ideal place 
it is for boys and girls. See the big lake for the 
older boys where they can fish and swim ? Over 
there is a stretch of forest land where we often go 
to hunt up wild flowers and other interesting 
things in Nature. And just a few miles on the 
other side of the station there is quite a town 
where we can buy anything we might need during 
the summer. Now when we reach Happy Hills 
you will see how complete everything is there for 
an outdoor life for Little Citizens.” 

The boys paid attention to the remarks and 
agreed with Uncle Ben that the location was ideal 
for everyone. Then the car neared the woods 
from whence rose a noisy babel of sound — happy 
laughter and singing, or calling, of many chil- 
dren. 

“Here we are, boys — and there comes Nelly!” 

Micky could not believe his eyes. Was that 
rosy, plump little girl who was running to meet 
him, his sickly, crippled little sister? Even the 
precocious, hardened little Skelly was impressed 
by the great improvement in the little girl. 

“Oh, Micky, Fm so glad you are here! And 
Micky I kin make pickshers of ladies' dresses all 


THE END OF A HAPPY SUMMER 251 

de time now, and make money for you and me, 
some day!” cried Nelly, flinging her arms about 
her brother's neck. 

From that moment, Skelly was a subdued 
young man, for he was too interested to remem- 
ber his threats about going back to the city, and 
he saw so many familiar faces of children — yet 
not familiar as they had been once, for these faces 
were round and rosy, and the children happy and 
always busy about something which is the secret 
of true happiness and contentment. 

Little Mother Maggie was introduced to 
Nelly's two visitors, and after a time, the little 
hostess asked Maggie to sing and show the boys 
how she was improving. 

Without demur, Maggie sang her old favor- 
ites, and even though they sounded suspiciously 
like “the goody-goody hymns” he had heard be- 
fore, Skelly sat and listened, keenly appreciative. 

“Come and see my prize asters, now,” said 
Maggie, turning to lead the way to the Little 
Farms. 

“Oh, and Micky, what you think?” exclaimed 
Nelly, eagerly. 

“What?” 


252 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

“Dutchy Bill what blows de brass horn, won a 
prize fer best playin’ dis month !” said Nelly, de- 
lightedly. 

“An’ Ikey Einstein, your friend, took the 
medal for courage when Bob, the horse, ran 
away wid on’y two little kids in the buckboard. 
Ikey jumped out and hung on de horse’s neck till 
Mister Uncle Ben could catch up and help,” added 
Maggie. 

“We raised seven fine hogs for market, boys. 
But Mister Uncle Ben bought them from us his- 
self, and is going to use ’em in the Blue Bird 
and Bobolink Home dis winter, you know,” 
laughed Nelly, eagerly. 

So the four rattled on, telling great bits of 
news — at least it was great for Little Citizens — 
and finally they reached the garden plots. 

Micky and Skelly were surprised at seeing all 
the fine vegetables and flowers growing in each 
square, and when Nelly told them of string beans, 
radishes, lettuce, and other produce that the chil- 
dren had gathered and sold to the housekeeper at 
Happy Hills, the two city boys began to see how 
profitable and pleasant a life on a farm must be. 
Ten times more profitable than selling papers! 


THE END OF A HAPPY SUMMER 253 

Maggie’s pet aster was admired to her heart’s 
content, but when Skelly bent down to sniff at it, 
that he might please Maggie by praising its per- 
fume, he could not truthfully say a word in its 
defence. 

Maggie laughed merrily. “You don’t like de 
smell, do you?” 

“Hully chee, Maggie ! I t’hot it was sweet like 1 
roses, but it’s just like medicine smell !” said 
Skelly. 

A few Police sauntered up, eager to be intro- 
duced to the two strangers, and because the new- 
comers were a year older than the other boys at 
camp, they were shown about with much pride. 

The Fire-House and apparatus were displayed 
and admired, then the base-ball diamond and the 
team that was practicing for a match game 
against the Police Team was visited. 

After this, the pigs had to be exhibited, and 
the Street Cleaning Squads were interviewed. 
By the time Micky and Skelly had met the Health 
Board, and the many other Squads and Boards 
formed that summer, they had met every Little 
Citizen at Camp, for every one was a member 
of one or more organizations. 


254 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

Miss Martin was very pleasant to the 
strangers and took them to the Refectory for 
some refreshments although it was not supper- 
time and dinner was long past. Later they were 
shown the Nest they might occupy for their visit, 
and when Skelly was removing his shoes that 
night preparatory to retiring, he whispered to 
Micky : 

“Say, Mick! Ain’t dis a place, dough! Wish 
to goodness we had come out here sooner and 
stayed longer, eh ?” 

“It’s fine, all right, but yeh see, ef we hed been 
here and tooken up the place fer two sickly boys, 
it wouldn’t-a been right! We’se is big and 
healthy and didn’t need country-life like some of 
dem poor little kids we saw coming away from 
Noo York dat day in summer,” replied Micky, 
thoughtfully. 

The next day was the Saturday preceding La- 
bor Day and on the following Tuesday, the Camp 
would close at Happy Hills and all the Little Citi- 
zens were to be taken back to the city : some to 
take up a residence in the new home, and some 
to join their families or friends again, after a 
long, wholesome summer in the country. 


THE END OF A HAPPY SUMMER 255 

That morning after Miss Martin’s usual story- 
hour, Uncle Ben stood up to address the children. 

“Our New Home, thanks to the efforts of Mr. 
Richards and others, is now ready to receive all 
those who will belong to our family this winter. 
Those who hold passports for this privilege will 
stand over to my left side.” 

In a short time a crowd of boys and girls had 
grouped themselves as directed. Then the 
speaker continued : 

“Now I have some good news to offer the 
others. One of the visitors who was present at 
our circus saw a great need for a good home for 
other children than those who had some talent to 
develop, and she went to work and secured the 
large house adjoining our home. This she has 
renovated and turned into a lodging-house for 
those boys and girls who earn a living, or for 
those who do not wish to live separate from their 
brothers or sisters. For a small weekly fee, a 
Little Citizen can live comfortably and well in the 
next-door house to our home. 

“Now I wish to know if there are any present 
who would like to engage a room with board at 


256 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

this house, so we can tell how many to provide 
for on the day we all go back to the city.” 

"Oh, hully chee! What wouldn’t I give to be 
a Little Citizen right now !” sighed Skelly, while 
Micky looked wistful, too. 

Bill overheard the remark and a thought came 
to him. 

"Hey, Mister Uncle Ben! Can’t anyone like 
an outsider what is workin’ fer his livin’ join dis 
house?” 

"The new house is open for anyone who can 
pass a satisfactory examination by the Board. 
Of course, you all know we have to question 
every applicant so as to keep out bad characters. 
Any honest, respectable boy can secure a home 
at this house.” 

At that Micky and Skelly exchanged looks, and 
Ikey Einstein ran over to join them. 

"Gee whiz! Boys le’s join quick! What a 
fine home we will have next to Mister Uncle 
Ben’s place!” 

Miss Martin laughed as she heard the cause 
for rejoicing and called out : 

"It will not be because you live next to Uncle 
Ben, but because you will be half of his family, 


THE END OF A HAPPY SUMMER 257 

as he will not leave you without his company once 
we are settled down for the winter.” 

A score of boys had started towards Uncle Ben 
to sign an application for a home, when Micky 
and Skelly followed close upon Ikey’s heels to 
secure permission to live in such a heavenly place 
as Ikey described it to be. 

While they were waiting in line to sign, or 
place a mark after their applications, Ikey whis- 
pered to his chums : 

“Miss Marting said dey got a music-box and 
lots of good records fer de boys to play. Dey 
got a tank in de cellar fer us to swim in, and a 
big back room what is made over into a gym. 
And every feller’s got a bed and burear fer him- 
self. He can lock de drawers, too, and ef he 
wants to be alone, he kin pull his curtains about 
his room and shet himself away from de udders !” 

“I guess ye’re talkin’ about de swell home fer 
de gurls and talents, ain’t cher ?” remarked 
Skelly, skeptically. 

“Naw! Dey got real rooms fer demselves! 
Little square ones all fixed up fine ! And down- 
stairs in de big living room is a real piano fer 
music makers. And all sorts of new-fangled 


258 THE BLUE BIRDS AT HAPPY HILLS 

things fer good times. Oh, dat Blue Bird and 
Bobolink City Home is one grand place, I kin 
tell yuh !” 

“Who toh you all about it?” queried Micky. 

“Maggie, what is called ‘Margaret’ by the 
grown-ups !” bragged Ikey. 

“Well, as fur as I care, de camp kin shet down 
now and start us all back to dat city home. I 
never had a home, es I kin remember, in all my 
life!” said Skelly. 

“Your turn next, Skelly,” called Uncle Ben 
at this moment, and the two city boys quickly 
went up and signed their names on the register. 

“And you will be there Tuesday without fail ?” 
asked Uncle Ben. 

“Of course, we will, Mister Uncle Ben!” de- 
clared the newsboys. 

And so they were. Not only were they eagerly 
welcomed to the first good home they had ever 
known, but the “Little Wonders” found at Happy 
Hills were welcomed to their “Blue Birds’ City 
Nest” where many interesting and wonderful 
things came to pass that year, all about which 
will be told to you in the next book, entitled “Blue 
Birds’ City Nest.” 














































































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